Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis has been appointed the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate for the by-election taking place in Brantford-Brant South.
This comes after Larry Brock, the former federal MP for Brantford-Brant South, announced his resignation on Aug. 6. It formally took effect Sept. 18 and will remain vacant until the by-election is held, and his successor is chosen.
No date is set for a by-election yet, but one must happen before April 2027.
“Our local Conservative team is as strong and united as ever. Brantford-Brant South has had outstanding Conservative representation for 18 years now and has set the standard for public service in our region,” Brock said in his resignation letter. “I’m proud to have carried the torch alongside a dedicated local riding association.”
Brock was elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025 and served as the shadow minister of Justice. “I’ve accepted an opportunity to return directly to the frontlines of justice at the Brantford Crown’s Attorney Office,” said Brock.
Before serving as an MP, he worked for 18 years as an assistant crown attorney in Brantford. The party’s leader, Pierre Poilievre, announced this decision at a rally in Brantford on Sept. 20.
“We need someone who will fight for Canada and fight for you – who will fight to save your money, save your job, keep you safe, fix immigration, and put Canada first – and that person is your Mayor, Kevin Davis,” Poilievre said.
The appointment meant local Conservative members did not hold an open nomination vote to select the candidate. Former ward councillor Joshua Wall and pastor Dave Carroll had sought nomination to be the Conservative candidate for Brantford-Brant South but are now unable to run as the party’s candidate.
“I think the open nomination process is a good thing. It tests the candidates to prove they have the support of party members and the community,” said Carroll in a Facebook post after the rally. “I wish Kevin Davis well, but I would be less than honest if I said I wasn’t deeply disappointed.”
Davis was first elected as the city’s mayor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He did not seek another re-election for the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 26.
“I was getting frustrated because the issues that are important to us are hard to deal with at the municipal level,” Davis said in his speech at the rally. “I’m talking about safe streets; affordability; the strength of our local economy.” Davis said he had another position lined up after his term as mayor but decided to seek the federal seat after speaking with Poilievre.
No other party has announced their official candidate for the federal by-election, but the federal Liberal candidate in the 2025 election, Joy O’Donnell, is seeking nomination again.
Sources
Leave a Reply