Election results show strong support for Eisenberger across the city

Newly released poll data from the city shows that support for Mayor Fred Eisenberger in this week's election was largely clustered in more urban areas and in central Hamilton, while challenger Vito Sgro's votes mostly came from rural and outlying areas.

Since his win, Eisenberger has called the election a de-facto referendum on LRT — and poll results show his message resonated in the lower city, parts of the Mountain, lower Stoney Creek, Dundas, and urban areas of Ancaster.

Sgro's "stop the train" messaging, meanwhile, resulted in votes in places like upper Stoney Creek and Flamborough.

City-wide, Eisenberger won the election with just over 74,000 votes, or a little over 54 per cent of the vote. Ultimately, Eisenberger had more votes than Sgro in every ward but two: Ward 15 and Ward 9.

Sgro came in second with almost 52,200 votes, or just over 38 per cent of the vote. 

McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe said it is notable Sgro came out on top in some wards.

"There was a vacuum in this campaign because there was no credible alternative to Fred who put their name forward," he said.

The city's data shifts dramatically when looking polling stations in specific parts of Hamilton.

In poll six from Ward 15, for instance, Sgro leads the way with 60 per cent of the vote to Eisenberger's 31 per cent.

It's a similar story from poll eight in Ward 9, where Sgro led with 55 per cent of the vote to Eisenberger's 35 per cent.

The dynamics totally flip, however, in the lower city. In poll two from Ward 2, Eisenberger leads the way with 76 per cent of the vote versus Sgro's 18 per cent. Similarly in poll six from Ward 1, Eisenberger led with 72 per cent of the vote compared to 21 per cent for Sgro.

Eisenberger also saw strong support from wards in which the LRT would be built, Graefe says.

"It's a sign that the local residents are embracing the project rather than seeing it as a threat to where they live," he said.

In some wards, the vote concentration is split. In Ward 13, Dundas largely voted Eisenberger, while Flamborough went to Sgro. Some parts of Ancaster voted for Sgro, while others went to Eisenberger.

"The bulk of urban Ancaster is ultimately Eisenberger," Graefe said, noting that Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson's support for the project likely goes a long way in generating support from residents in that area.

For a poll by poll breakdown of the election results, visit the city's website.

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