What should Kamloops councillors take from an election in which only three incumbent councillors were re-elected, and all three received a smaller share of the vote than they did in 2022?
The 2026 municipal election brought a substantial change to the makeup of Kamloops City Council. Looking specifically at incumbent councillors, the results show a consistent decline in vote share, even as the number of ballots cast increased.
In 2022, the City recorded 23,218 ballots. In 2026, that number rose to 30,259, an increase of about 30%. Yet every incumbent councillor in the comparison below received a smaller percentage of the vote in 2026.
The numbers tell a story
Changes are percentage-point differences between elections.
Bill Sarai experienced the largest decline, with his share of the vote falling by 26.15 percentage points. Katie Neustaeter and Dale Bass also saw substantial drops, losing 15.96 and 14.42 points respectively.
The results weren't uniform in every respect. Some incumbents received more votes in absolute numbers than they did in 2022, but their share of all ballots cast still declined. With turnout increasing, the distinction matters: a lower vote share doesn't necessarily mean fewer people voted for a candidate.
Re-election isn't necessarily a vote of confidence
Only three incumbent councillors in this comparison returned to council: Katie Neustaeter, Margot Middleton and Kelly Hall. All three won re-election despite receiving a smaller share of the vote than they did four years earlier.
Neustaeter's share fell from 49.89% to 33.93%. Middleton's dropped from 36.87% to 29.47%, while Hall's declined from 41.11% to 29.46%.
Their re-election is a clear electoral outcome. But it shouldn't be confused with evidence that voters endorsed their entire record over the previous four years. Winning a seat means receiving sufficient support in that election; it doesn't establish that residents were satisfied with every decision, or that concerns raised during the previous term have been resolved.
What message should councillors take from the results?
We can't determine from vote totals alone what motivated individual voters. The figures don't prove that dissatisfaction with council's conduct, spending decisions or major projects caused the declines. Those questions require a closer look at the issues raised during the campaign and the decisions made during the previous term.
But the combination of increased turnout, declining vote shares among all seven incumbent councillors and the return of only three of them gives council good reason to reflect. The results are consistent with a significant loss of electoral support for incumbents, although they don't tell us precisely why it happened.
The three returning councillors have another term to serve. They should treat that opportunity as a responsibility to listen, explain their decisions and respond to residents' concerns—not as a reason to assume the public has given their previous record a blanket endorsement.
Re-election is an outcome, not a guarantee of continued public confidence. The 2026 council election results offer a clear reason for incumbent councillors to take that distinction seriously.
Editorial Disclosure: This article compares publicly reported vote totals for incumbent Kamloops councillors in the 2022 and 2026 municipal elections. Vote-share changes are calculated by comparing each candidate's percentage of ballots cast in the two elections. The figures show changes in electoral support but do not establish why voters made their choices. This analysis is intended to help residents assess the election results and draw their own conclusions.
Kamloops Critic, thanks for this summation. I also read the article that was posted on the Armchair Mayor web site. I offered this comment for that article:
There was no empathy from any of them for a man in hospital waiting for cardiac surgery. Instead, a continuation of bullying from a “team” who showed some of the worst traits of human nature possible.
Neustaeter’s statements about Sarai were enough to cause a bout of nausea for me and perhaps a number of readers. Not many men would secretly tape an argument, lie about it then only confess when the RCMP backed him into a corner. I’m glad Katie will remember him as a gentle soul with a generosity of spirit. Were the deep waters a reference to coffee with Byron? Was the “deep thinker” reference to Bepple a reminder to us about 6th Avenue?
The grown men who were elected to be councillors didn’t need advice from any of the ones who have sat on council for the last 4 years. They might be advised rather to not EVER be alone with one particular incumbent and even with a witness present, keep the door of the room open at all times. Following those measures “religiously” could save themselves, their conjugal partners and their families a lot of heartache.