Richmond mayoral race: Tight, three-way battle to replace popular longtime mayor

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie served eight terms over 25 years — winning by large margins each time — by maintaining what analysts called a “light,” centre-right political position.

He led infrastructure growth, including the Canada Line and the Richmond Olympic Oval, in a way that was seen as practical, non-partisan and mostly without controversy.

As he steps away from political life after deciding to not run again, he leaves behind a city facing polarizing issues related to affordable housing, social and supportive housing projects, public safety and policing, and uncertainty around how the Cowichan land rights decision might affect private property ownership.

It appears the race to replace Brodie is almost evenly split, with the top three candidates separated by single digits, according to a new Leger poll.

Independent Kash Heed leads with 13 per cent of voters, followed by Alexa Loo of Richmond Strong with 12 per cent, and Rob Howard of Richmond Forward with 11 per cent.

Richmond’s population is just over 241,000, and growing, up from 209,937 in the 2021 census. Sixty per cent of its diverse population are immigrants, and over 80 per cent are visible minorities. Chinese Canadians make up about 54 per cent of the population.

Richmond’s unhoused population has doubled since 2020, according to Metro Vancouver’s 2025 homeless count.

The three top candidates all bring experience in municipal politics.

Heed, a Richmond municipal councillor since 2022, was an MLA in Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government from 2009 to 2013, and served 10 months as public safety minister and solicitor general. Heed is running on a law-and-order platform, and calling for a transparent and cost-effective government. And pragmatic solutions that prioritize the needs of the community.

He is proposing the creation of a budget accountability office to ensure responsible spending and transparency if elected.

Heed wants more support for those with complex drug addiction and mental-health needs, including some form of secure care for those most in need.

He has said he hopes the courts will overturn the Cowichan land title decision.

Two-time Olympic snowboarder Alexa Loo is running under the Richmond Strong banner alongside three council candidates. She has served three terms as a Richmond city councillor since 2014. Loo is running on a community safety platform, advocating more police foot patrols and early police intervention in problem spots and homeless camps.

She advocates streamlining engineering and building permitting, reducing red tape around business licensing and a property tax system that ties increases to demonstrable costs.

Loo says she wants to improve Richmond’s dikes, tackle transportation issues, prioritize the North Arm Waterfront Park development and protect fee simple properties in light of the Cowichan Tribes decision.