Rob Cooper, who was elected to Hamilton City Council in September 2025 in a by-election, recently announced that he will be running for mayor in the upcoming Oct. 26 municipal elections.
Cooper, who was elected in Ward 8 (West/Central Mountain) after Councillor John-Paul Danko was elected for the federal Liberals in Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas, says that with the new strong mayor powers, the mayoral position is more important than ever.
In a press release, Cooper says that his platform will focus on “keeping taxes affordable, tackling violent crime, confronting the housing crisis and repairing and rebuilding infrastructure.”
Cooper wrote an opinion piece in The Hamilton Spectator on March 14 that “every $13-million mistake [made by the city] translates to a one per cent increase for Hamilton taxpayers, and there have been numerous such mistakes.”
“Our city boasts incredible assets, including a world-class port, a growing international airport, a proud manufacturing sector and one of Canada’s most productive agricultural regions,” he continued.
“Few cities possess such strengths. With the right leadership, Hamilton can become Canada’s economic engine.”
Cooper continued, “This requires responsible financial management, smart infrastructure investments, housing support, improved public safety and creating conditions for businesses and workers to thrive. It also necessitates a change in decision-making at city hall, moving the focus from maintaining spending to delivering outcomes.”
Appearing to contrast himself with mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis, Cooper also emphasized that he has lived in Hamilton his “whole life.”
Loomis was born in Oswego, New York, met his future wife at the University of Waterloo, moved to Hamilton in 2009, and became a Canadian citizen in 2015.
Cooper says he will bring his business experience to the mayoral seat.
He notes that he has 13 professional designations and degrees, including a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) certification.
His resume includes positions with accounting firm Ernst & Young, Stelco, TD Bank, Manulife, McMaster University, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
At Stelco, he served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, while at McMaster University, he was Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Internal Auditor, and Chief Risk Officer.
It should be noted that Cooper also previously served as a riding association executive on Hamilton Mountain with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
During the Ward 8 by-election in September 2025, Cooper’s campaign slogan was “Leadership That Listens – Change That Works,” and his platform consisted of six points, which were (in order): Tackle Violent Crime, Repair and Rebuild Our Roads, End Tax Increases Exceeding Inflation, Scrap the Rain and Vacant Unit Taxes, Confront the Housing Crisis, and Expand Public Transportation.
His campaign website called the rain tax and vacant unit taxes “unnecessary” and said that they “burden residents and slow development.”
It also said that he would confront the housing crisis by “expanding housing options and supporting affordable homes for residents.”
In regard to public transit, Cooper said he wants to bring GO Transit to Hamilton Mountain, specifically Mohawk College, to make it “easier for residents, students, and workers to connect.”
So far, four people have announced their intention to run for Hamilton mayor, even though the nomination period does not open until May 1, 2026.
Cooper joins Loomis, current Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, and local sex worker and activist Scarlett Gillespie (also known as Jelena Vermilion) in having declared their intentions.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
