Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations will return to the ballot box this fall after Conservative MP Larry Brock announced he will step down in September, signalling a by-election in a riding that has been reliably Conservative for nearly two decades.
Local implications for a long-held seat
Brock’s decision comes at a turbulent moment for the federal Conservative caucus, which has seen multiple departures, floor crossings and appointments since the party’s 2025 election loss to the Liberals. For Brantford residents, the impending by-election will test whether the Conservatives can hold a seat they have controlled in its current or predecessor configurations since 2008.
Historically, the riding last failed to return a Conservative MP in 2006, when the Liberals won by a single percentage point. Since then, Conservatives have carried the area in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2025. In the 2025 general election, Brock secured more than 52 per cent of the vote, finishing about 11 percentage points ahead of the Liberal candidate.
- Seat: Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations
- Incumbent: Larry Brock (Conservative) — stepping down in September
- 2025 result: Brock >52% of vote; ~11-point margin over Liberal
"The Conservatives will soon lose their eighth MP of this Parliament."
Broader party turmoil and why Brantford matters
The resignation is part of a wider pattern that has reshaped the Conservative ranks since the Liberals, led by Justin Carney, formed government in 2025. Several Conservative MPs have crossed the floor to join the Liberals, including Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux and Marilyn Gladu. Chicoutimi—Le Fjord MP Richard Martel accepted an invitation to the Senate in July, while Saskatchewan MP Cathy Wagantall also announced plans to step down. Separately, Damien Kurek vacated Battle River—Crowfoot so that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre could seek a return to the House.
Those changes have concentrated attention on a handful of impending by-elections. Political observers say the Brantford-area contest could be especially significant: a loss here would represent a shift in a small-city and rural Ontario pattern that has delivered continuity for Conservatives, and would be viewed as an early local indicator of the party’s standing outside major urban centres.
| Year | Outcome (riding) |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Liberal victory (narrow) |
| 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2025 | Conservative victories |
| 2025 (vote share) | Brock >52%; ~11-point lead |
What Brantford residents can expect
With Brock’s departure scheduled for September, the by-election timeline will be determined by federal authorities and party strategists. Locally, candidates from major parties are likely to focus on issues that resonate across the Brantford area: local economic development, infrastructure, Indigenous and municipal relations with Six Nations, and the needs of small-city and rural voters—topics that have historically influenced voting patterns in the riding.
For Brantford voters, the by-election will be more than a choice of individual candidates; it will be a referendum on whether the Conservative brand in this part of Ontario remains as secure as recent election results suggest. Political momentum elsewhere — including tight races such as Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, where the Conservatives have shown vulnerability — adds to the strategic importance of the Brantford contest for Ottawa parties and local stakeholders alike.
As parties prepare nominations and campaign teams start to mobilize, Brantford residents can expect intensified door‑knocking, local debates and media attention in the weeks ahead. The outcome will offer a snapshot of federal support in a region where urban growth and rural concerns intersect — a dynamic that often shapes Ontario’s political landscape.
