Andrea Horwath

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Her Worship
Andrea Horwath
Horwath in 2022
58th Mayor of Hamilton
Assumed office
November 15, 2022
Preceded byFred Eisenberger
Leader of the Opposition in Ontario
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 28, 2022
Preceded byVic Fedeli
Succeeded byPeter Tabuns
Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party
In office
March 7, 2009 – June 28, 2022
Deputy
Preceded byHoward Hampton
Succeeded byPeter Tabuns (interim)
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Hamilton Centre
(Hamilton East; 2004–2007)
In office
May 13, 2004 – August 15, 2022
Preceded byDominic Agostino
Succeeded bySarah Jama
Hamilton City Councillor
In office
December 1, 1997 – June 16, 2004
Serving with Ron Corsini (1997–2000)
Preceded byVince Agro
Bill McCulloch
Succeeded byBob Bratina
ConstituencyWard Two
Personal details
Born (1962-10-24) October 24, 1962 (age 61)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Political partyIndependent[a]
Other political
affiliations		Ontario New Democratic
Domestic partnerBen Leonetti (c. 1985–2010)
Children1
Alma materMcMaster University (BA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • community development worker
Signature

Andrea Horwath (/ˈhɔːrvæθ/ ⓘ; born October 24, 1962) is a Canadian politician who has been the 58th mayor of Hamilton since 2022. Horwath served as the leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2009 to 2022 and as the leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario from 2018 to 2022.

Horwath was first elected in 1997, when she won a seat on Hamilton City Council. In 2004, she was elected as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre, a seat she would hold until 2022. Owing to her roots in Hamilton, Horwath is known by the moniker "Steeltown Scrapper".[1] Horwath was elected as the leader Ontario NDP at the party's 2009 leadership convention, and led the party through four provincial elections, before resigning in 2022. She is the first woman to lead the NDP, and the third woman (after Lyn McLeod and Kathleen Wynne) to serve as leader of a party with official party status in Ontario.

During the 2018 provincial election, Horwath led the Ontario NDP to official opposition status after 23 years without government or official opposition status. The results of the 2022 provincial election, after which the Ontario NDP remained the official opposition, led to Horwath announcing her intention to resign as the leader of the Ontario NDP on the night of June 2, 2022.[2] Her resignation took effect on June 28, 2022.[3]

On July 26, 2022, Horwath announced her candidacy for mayor of Hamilton,[4] and resigned her seat in the provincial legislature on August 15, 2022.[5] She was elected mayor on October 24, 2022, and was sworn in on November 15.[6]

Early life, education and early career[edit]

Horwath was born and raised in Stoney Creek. Her father Andrew, an ethnic Hungarian, had immigrated to Canada from Slovakia, and worked on the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company plant in Oakville, Ontario. Her mother, Diane, is of French and Irish descent.[7][8][9]

Horwath has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University. While her initial program was in human resources, she was drawn to labour studies. She worked part-time as a waitress to pay her way through university. After graduating, Horwath worked in literacy training, legal-aid advocacy and "community organization".[7]

Early political career[edit]

In the Canadian federal election of 1997, she was the NDP candidate against incumbent Liberal Stan Keyes in the riding of Hamilton West. Although unsuccessful, her second-place finish was a significant improvement on previous NDP efforts in the riding, and gave her an increased level of prominence in the city.

City councillor[edit]

Later in 1997, she was elected to Hamilton City Council for Ward Two, outpolling two incumbents who had represented the area for more than 20 years. She emerged as a prominent voice for the political left in the city, and was re-elected to council in 2000 and 2003. During her three terms as city councillor, she chaired the solid-waste-management committee and the municipal non-profit housing corporation.

Provincial politics[edit]

By-election victory[edit]

Horwath was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in a 2004 by-election in the then-extant provincial riding of Hamilton East, defeating Liberal candidate Ralph Agostino to succeed the deceased Liberal member Dominic Agostino, Ralph's brother. Winning 63.6 per cent of the vote, up from the NDP's 29.4 per cent in that riding six months earlier, her landslide victory boosted the NDP's seat count over the threshold for official party status in the legislature, and helped give the federal New Democratic Party a bounce in Hamilton that would continue into the federal election shortly thereafter.

2007 election[edit]

In the 2007 election, Horwath ran in the new riding of Hamilton Centre, due to redistricting that divided her former Hamilton East riding between Hamilton Centre and the new riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. Horwath's new Hamilton Centre riding included approximately half of her former riding as well as a portion of the former Hamilton West riding where she had run federally in 1997. It also included her entire former city council ward.

In the lead up to the campaign, Horwath was expected to face Hamilton West Liberal incumbent Judy Marsales. However, Marsales opted not to run for another term, and Horwath easily defeated Liberal candidate Steve Ruddick on election day.

2009 NDP leadership campaign[edit]

Horwath during a debate in the 2009 NDP leadership election
Main article: 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election

On November 7, 2008, Horwath officially launched her campaign to win the party's leadership. The leadership election was held March 6–8, 2009. Horwath led on the first two ballots, and won on the third ballot with 60.4% of the vote defeating Peter Tabuns, Gilles Bisson and Michael Prue.[10]

2011 election[edit]

The 2011 provincial election saw a rise in support for the NDP under Horwath's leadership. The party won more than 20% of the popular vote for the first time since 1995 and almost doubled its seats to elect 17 members of the legislature. The election also resulted in the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty being reduced to a minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power.

In April 2012, Horwath passed a leadership review at the party's convention with 76% support.

2014 election[edit]

Horwath during the 2014 provincial election campaign

In the 2014 provincial election, the NDP was able to maintain its seat count of 21 at dissolution despite the loss of three seats in Toronto, but lost the balance of power when the Liberals took a majority win in the election. Horwath has faced criticism from some party members and progressives for running a populist campaign which they described as right-wing.[11] Despite criticism of her leadership from some quarters, Horwath received a slightly increased level of support, 77%, at the party's post-election convention held on November 15.[12]

2018 election[edit]

Horwath ran in her third election as NDP leader against the Liberal government led by Kathleen Wynne and a Progressive Conservative Party led by Doug Ford. Horwath promised to introduce "Canada's first universal Pharmacare plan", highlighted by a universal dental plan and a prescription drug plan that "will initially cover 125 of the most commonly prescribed drugs".[13][14] She also promised a child care plan in which seventy per cent of Ontario parents "would either have free child care or pay an average of $12 a day in a licensed not-for-profit daycare".[14] Horwath promised to return Hydro One to public ownership by buying back privately held shares.[15] She also said that she would close the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station immediately, while the other party leaders have pledged to keep it open until 2024.[16] The NDP promised to increase corporate tax rates from 11.5 to 12.5 per cent,[17] as well as introducing an income tax increase for those earning over $220,000 per year.[18] Horwath said the province would fund half of the operating cost of municipal transit[19] and indicated that she would not introduce back-to-work legislation.[15] The party's support in public opinion polls increased in May 2018,[20] leading to greater media attention and greater scrutiny. With her party gaining official opposition status, she became the Leader of the Official Opposition during the 42nd Parliament, the second highest number of seats in the party's history.[21] The NDP took all of old Toronto (i.e., what was the city of Toronto before the 1998 creation of the "megacity" of Toronto), as well as all but one seat in Hamilton and all but one seat in Niagara.

2022 election[edit]

Horwath and the NDP released their 2022 platform in April 2022.[22] Horwath was re-elected in Hamilton Centre, but the NDP lost 7 seats.[23] Horwath resigned as leader election night.

Return to municipal politics[edit]

Horwath announcing her campaign for Mayor to media, July 2022.

Horwath ran as a candidate for the position of Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario in the October 2022 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election.[24] She was elected on October 24, 2022.[25] Horwath is the first woman to be elected mayor in Hamilton's history.[26]

Mayor of Hamilton[edit]

Horwath took office as mayor on November 15, 2022, becoming the first woman to serve as mayor of the city of Hamilton. Prior to amalgamation the suburbs of Stoney Creek and Ancaster each had had women mayors. The first regional chair for the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth was also a woman.[citation needed] In April 2023, Hamilton city council declared a state of emergency over opioids, homelessness, and mental health.[27]

Personal life[edit]

She lives in Hamilton with her son Julian (born November 1992). In a March 2011 interview with the Toronto Star, she spoke publicly for the first time about the breakup of her longtime relationship with Julian's father, Hamilton businessman Ben Leonetti.[28] Horwath had met Ben Leonetti in her university years, when she was working part-time as a waitress and he was a jazz musician. The two lived together for 25 years without getting married and split up in 2010.[29]

Awards[edit]

In March 2012, Horwath received the EVE award which is sponsored by Equal Voice, a non-profit organization focused on promoting women in politics. Past recipients have included women from every level of government.[30]

Electoral record[edit]

Provincial[edit]

2022 Ontario general election: Hamilton Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 16,690 57.26 −7.99 $91,582
Progressive Conservative Sarah Bokhari 4,800 16.47 +0.80 $11,970
Liberal Ekaterini Dimakis 3,799 13.03 +2.15 $11,923
Green Sandy Crawley 2,554 8.76 +3.02 $591
New Blue John Chroust 483 1.66   $0
Ontario Party Brad Peace 451 1.55   $589
Communist Nigel Cheriyan 225 0.77 +0.41 $0
Independent Nathalie Xian Yi Yan 145 0.50   $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 29,147 99.01 +0.19 $108,893
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 291 0.99 –0.19
Turnout 29,438 37.94 –10.97
Eligible voters 77,781
New Democratic hold Swing −4.40
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 23,866 65.25 +13.24
Progressive Conservative Dionne Duncan 5,730 15.67 +1.28
Liberal Deirdre Pike 3,982 10.89 −12.61
Green Jason Lopez 2,102 5.75 −2.78
None of the Above Tony Lemma 320 0.87
Libertarian Robert Young 285 0.78
Independent Maria Anastasiou 156 0.43
Communist Mary Ellen Campbell 134 0.37 −0.27
Total valid votes 36,575 98.82 +0.94
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 436 1.18 -0.94
Turnout 37,011 48.91 +4.15
Eligible voters 75,672
New Democratic hold Swing
Source: Elections Ontario[31]
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 18,697 52.01 -9.32
Liberal Donna Tiqui-Shebib 8,450 23.50 +6.04
Progressive Conservative John Vail 5,173 14.39 +1.22
Green Peter Ormond 3,067 8.53 +4.81
Freedom Peter Melanson 334 0.93 +0.54
Communist Bob Mann 229 0.64 +0.28
Total valid votes 35,950 97.88 -1.60
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 778 2.12 +1.60
Turnout 36,728 44.76 +2.33
Eligible voters 82,062
New Democratic hold Swing -7.68
Source: Elections Ontario[32]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 20,586 61.33 +16.74
Liberal Donna Tiqui-Shebib 5,861 17.46 -11.12
Progressive Conservative Don Sheppard 4,421 13.17 -1.60
Green Peter Ormond 1,249 3.72 -5.90
Libertarian Robert Kuhlmann 634 1.89
Independent Micheal Baldasaro 268 0.80
Family Coalition Steve Passmore 229 0.68 -0.94
Freedom Chris Lawson 130 0.39
Communist Anthony Gracey 122 0.36 -0.46
Reform Robert Szajkowski 67 0.20
Total valid votes 33,567 99.48 +0.56
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 177 0.52 -0.56
Turnout 33,744 42.43 -6.20
Eligible voters 79,524
New Democratic hold Swing +13.93
Sources: Elections Ontario[33] The Hamilton Spectator[34] The Hamilton Spectator[35]
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 17,176 44.72
Liberal Steve Ruddick 11,096 28.89
Progressive Conservative Chris Robertson 5,673 14.77
Green Peter Ormond 3,610 9.40
Family Coalition Lynne Scime 550 1.43
Communist Bob Mann 302 0.79
Total valid votes 38,407 98.92
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 415 1.08
Turnout 38,822 48.63
Eligible voters 79,828
Hamilton East by-election, 2004
(Death of Dominic Agostino)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 15,185 63.6
Liberal Ralph Agostino 6,362 26.6
Progressive Conservative Tara Crugnale 1,772 7.4
Green Raymond Dartsch 448 1.9 –
Independent John Turmel 120 0.5

Municipal[edit]

2022 Hamilton Mayoral Election
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Andrea Horwath 59,216 41.68
Keanin Loomis 57,553 40.41
Bob Bratina 17,436 12.27
Ejaz Butt 1,907 1.34
Solomon Ikhuiwu 1,867 1.31
Jim Davis 1,433 1.01
Michael Pattison 1,422 1.00
Paul Fromm 898 0.63
Hermiz Ishaya 326 0.23
Total votes
Registered voters
Note: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: City of Hamilton, "Nominated Candidates"
2003 Hamilton Election: Councillor, Ward 2
Candidate Votes %
Andrea Horwath (x) 4,601 63.81
James Novak 1,993 27.64
Ronald Berenbaum 325 4.51
Jerry Moore 291 4.04
2000 Hamilton Election: Councillor, Ward 2
Candidate Votes %
Andrea Horwath (x) 4,192 50.0
Ron Corsini (x) 3,263 39.0
Ed Fisher 911 11.0
1997 Hamilton Election: Councillor, Ward 2
Candidate Votes %
Andrea Horwath 3,587 28.1
Ron Corsini 3,364 26.4
Vince Agro (x) 2,097 16.4
Bill McCulloch (x) 2,097 16.4
Jason Capobianco 902 7.1
John Kenyon 512 4.0
Jim Savage 208 1.6

Federal[edit]

1997 Canadian federal election: Hamilton West
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Stan Keyes (x) 20,951
New Democratic Andrea Horwath 7,648
Progressive Conservative John Findlay 6,510
Reform Ken Griffith 6,285
Natural Law Brian Rickard 323
Marxist–Leninist Wendell Fields 170

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Voters catch a glimpse of Andrea Horwath, the 'Steeltown scrapper'". The Globe and Mail. May 26, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Andrea Horwath resigns as Ontario NDP leader". The Toronto Star. June 2, 2022. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  3. ^ McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (June 28, 2022). "Ontario NDP names Toronto caucus member Peter Tabuns as interim leader". CP24. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Rosas, Aura (July 26, 2022). "Here's who is running so far in the 2022 municipal election in Hamilton". CBC News. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  5. ^ "Andrea Horwath | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". May 13, 2004.
  6. ^ "2022 Candidates' Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections". ontario.ca. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Mehler Paperny, Anna (September 23, 2011). "For Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, it's all about connecting". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "The game-changer: Horwath in the spotlight as budget battle looms". April 12, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  9. ^ Talaga, Tanya (September 8, 2011). "Horwath gets support from her mom to kick off her campaign". thestar.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Campbell, Murray (March 7, 2009). "Horwath wins Ontario NDP leadership". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ^ Walkom, Thomas (May 28, 2014). "Gang of 34 letter points to real problems within Horwath's NDP". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Leslie, Keith (November 15, 2014). "Andrea Horwath wins 77 percent in leadership review at NDP convention, will stay on as leader". National Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  13. ^ Benzie, Robert; Rushowy, Kristin (March 19, 2018). "Andrea Horwath unveils $1.2B public dental plan". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Benzie, Robert (March 17, 2018). "Ontario NDP pledges full dental coverage as part of universal health care plan". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Ferguson, Rob (May 22, 2018). "An NDP government would not use back-to-work legislation to end strikes, party leader Andrea Horwath says". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "Promises from Ontario's 3 main political parties on nuclear and booze". The Canadian Press. May 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  17. ^ Leslie, Keith (May 22, 2014). "Ontario NDP would hike corporate taxes: Horwath". Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  18. ^ Crawley, Mike (May 23, 2018). "As Ontario NDP rises in polls, its platform and candidates get closer scrutiny". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "Ontario NDP, Liberals talk transit promises after Ford pledges gas price cut". The Canadian Press. May 17, 2018. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Perkel, Colin (May 24, 2018). "NDP, Tories tied at 37 per cent support, new poll suggests; Liberals trail at 21". Global News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  21. ^ Brean, Joseph (June 8, 2018). "An opportunity missed, Andrea Horwath welcomes loss as victory". National Post. Retrieved July 3, 2018. She meant the NDP's 33 per cent of the popular vote and 40 ridings is the best showing in a provincial election since Rae
  22. ^ "Strong. Ready. Working for You" (PDF). ontariondp.ca. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  23. ^ Powers, Lucas (June 3, 2022). "Ontario's Progressive Conservatives sail to 2nd majority, NDP and Liberal leaders say they will resign". CBC News.
  24. ^ "Former Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath running for mayor of Hamilton | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  25. ^ "Andrea Horwath elected as mayor of Hamilton". ctvnews.ca. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  26. ^ @keaninloomis (October 25, 2022). "I had a chance to speak with @AndreaHorwath this morning and congratulate her on making history as the first woman mayor of #HamOnt" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "City of Hamilton declares state of emergency over opioids, homelessness, mental health". April 13, 2023.
  28. ^ "Horwath opens up about life as a single mom". thestar.com. March 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  29. ^ Diebel, Linda (October 3, 2011). "The Leaders: Andrea Horwath, Steeltown street fighter". thestar.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  30. ^ "Equal Voice Toronto announces 2012 EVE Award Recipient Andrea Horwath". 2012. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  31. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  32. ^ Elections Ontario (2014). "Official result from the records, 031 Hamilton Centre" (PDF). Retrieved June 27, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ Elections Ontario (2011). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Hamilton Centre" (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "Declared Candidates" (PDF). The Hamilton Spectator. July 23, 2011. p. A6.
  35. ^ Pecoskie, Teri (August 22, 2011). "Liberals give lawyer Hamilton Centre nod". The Hamilton Spectator.

Notes:

  1. ^ Municipal politicians in Ontario are elected on a non-partisan basis

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andrea Horwath.
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