Mike Bradley had few words to say as he walked into Ups N' Downs restaurant in downtown Sarnia Monday night after polling results showed he had lost the mayoral race to Carrie McEachran.
There were a few tears and applause as Bradley entered the private side room.
He refused to speak with media or hold a concession speech. However, he did post his congratulations to McEachran on social media.
"Congratulations to the new Mayor elect McEachran and Council. Sarnia Semper," Bradley wrote in a statement.
Unofficially, Bradley received 7,185 votes in the 2026 municipal election, compared to McEachran's 13,828.
The 71-year-old was first elected mayor in 1988.
Bradley announced his intention to seek a 12th term in office on August 21, just hours before the deadline to file nomination papers. He campaigned on his experience, promising to continue advocating for Line 5 and the Northern Shield Pipeline project, as well as affordable housing.
A small group of supporters met Bradley at Ups N' Downs, including Dave Boushy, who announced his retirement from council in April.
Boushy said he was "very mad and sad" with the results.
"Mike Bradley and I started together the same day at city hall ... and we have been friends, and I was pretty sure he would make it. But that's the way life is," Boushy told Sarnia News Today. "I'm sad to see my closest friend is not going to be there."
Failed mayoral candidate Bill Dennis thanked Bradley in a social media post.
"I want to thank Mayor Mike Bradley for his decades of service to this community, a community that we all love," Dennis said in a Facebook post. "To my supporters and the people of Sarnia, it has been the honour of my life, to serve this community. My time on council has come to an end, my love for Sarnia never will. God bless you all, and God bless the City Of Sarnia."
According to the unofficial election results for the mayoral race, Dennis received 5,899 votes, and Scott Molson captured 2,207.
As of 10:30 p.m., Molson had not posted a statement on Facebook.
Although George Stanko's name was on the ballot, he announced his withdrawal from the race in October, after the official deadline passed. He received 114 votes.
