Doug McCallum is leading Brenda Locke in Surrey’s 2026 mayoral election after preliminary results began coming in following Saturday’s vote.
The former mayor is seeking a return to Surrey City Hall after Locke defeated him by 973 votes in the 2022 municipal election.
The City of Surrey’s preliminary results system lists seven candidates in the mayoral race, including McCallum, Locke, Linda Annis, Mike Starchuk, Honveer Singh Randhawa, Troy Van Vliet and Igal Ammons II.
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Surrey election results remain preliminary
The Surrey election results are not final until the city completes its verification and publishes official results.
Early figures posted during the count showed McCallum moving into the lead, although vote totals and percentages could change as additional voting places and tabulators reported their ballots.
The city said preliminary results would be posted after polls closed at 8 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The results website does not automatically refresh, meaning users must reload the page to see the latest available count.
Seven candidates competed for mayor
McCallum, who previously served as Surrey’s mayor from 1996 to 2005 and again from 2018 to 2022, returned to the race as the Safe Surrey Coalition candidate.
Locke ran for a second term with Surrey Connect after becoming mayor in 2022.
Annis entered the contest under the Surrey First banner, while Starchuk led Imagine Surrey.
Randhawa ran under the Conservative Electors Association banner, which appeared on the municipal ballot as Conservative.
Van Vliet represented SURREY NOW, and Ammons II ran with New Surrey+.
What Surrey voters were deciding
Surrey voters were electing one mayor, eight city councillors and six school trustees for School District No. 36.
The election comes as Surrey continues to manage rapid population growth, major transportation projects, housing pressures and the ongoing transition from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to the Surrey Police Service.
Public safety and policing remained central themes in the mayoral campaign.
McCallum campaigned on expanding municipal policing resources, extending SkyTrain service toward Newton and holding property tax increases at zero per cent for four years.
Locke’s campaign focused on continuing her administration’s approach to city development, public safety and municipal services.
Other candidates offered competing proposals on taxation, transparency, transportation, infrastructure and growth management.
Advance voting turnout increased
The city reported that 52,600 ballots were cast during advance voting on October 7, 10, 14 and 15.
That figure represented 15 per cent of Surrey’s 352,148 registered electors.
Advance voting was up from 35,701 ballots in 2022, although the city also expanded the number of advance voting locations from six to 10.
The higher advance-voting total does not by itself determine overall turnout or the final outcome.
McCallum and Locke face another close contest
The result marks a second consecutive mayoral contest between McCallum and Locke.
In 2022, Locke won a fragmented race with 33,311 votes, while McCallum finished with 32,338.
The narrow margin helped make the 2026 rematch one of the most closely watched municipal contests in British Columbia.
The seven-candidate field also meant that the winning candidate could take office without receiving a majority of all votes cast.
What happens next
Election officials will continue reconciling ballots and confirming the preliminary totals.
The city’s official results will determine the final mayoral winner and the councillors and school trustees elected for the next term.
Campaign finance disclosure deadlines will also follow under British Columbia’s local election rules.
Until the official count is released, McCallum should be described as leading or holding a preliminary advantage rather than as the formally declared mayor-elect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Surrey mayoral election in 2026?
Preliminary Surrey election results show former mayor Doug McCallum leading Brenda Locke, but the city must complete its official verification before declaring the final winner.
When was Surrey’s 2026 municipal election held?
General voting day was Saturday, October 17, 2026, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time.
Who ran for mayor of Surrey in 2026?
The seven candidates were Igal Ammons II, Linda Annis, Brenda Locke, Doug McCallum, Honveer Singh Randhawa, Mike Starchuk and Troy Van Vliet.
How many offices were elected in Surrey?
Surrey voters elected one mayor, eight city councillors and six school trustees for School District No. 36.
Are the Surrey election results official yet?
The initial figures are preliminary, and the final result will be confirmed after election officials complete the count and verification process.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, the candidate list, advance-voting figures and preliminary-results process were checked against the City of Surrey’s election information and results pages. ([surrey.ca](https://www.surrey.ca/2026-municipal-election/election-results?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Preliminary vote totals can change until the City of Surrey completes its official count and verification.