The 2026 Watford mayoral election was held on 7 May 2026 to elect the mayor of Watford, on the same date as the Watford local council election and other local elections across the country.
Background
The position of Mayor of Watford was established in 2002. It was held by Dorothy Thornhill of the Liberal Democrats until 2018 when fellow Liberal Democrat Peter Taylor was elected to succeed her. In the 2022 mayoral election, Taylor was re-elected with over 50% of the vote.
Electoral system The election uses the voting system of first past the post to elect the mayor, having been changed from the supplementary vote system in 2022. In first past the post, there is only one count, and the candidate with the most votes wins. The Electoral Reform Society described the move to first past the post as one lowering the bar for politicians and thus damaging British democracy.
Results
References