Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis has been appointed as the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate for the upcoming federal byelection in Brantford-Brant South, following the resignation of longtime MP Larry Brock. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced Davis as the party’s candidate at a rally in Brantford on Sunday, one day before Parliament was set to resume sitting after a three-month break. The decision came as a surprise to some Conservatives in the room, who had expected an opportunity to choose their own candidate through a nomination process. One rally attendee said they were “a little bit disappointed” by the decision, while another said they did not believe Davis had “the backbone” to do what Brock did. Another attendee said they had been hoping party members would be given the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate. Community leader Dave Carroll had announced his intention to seek the Conservative nomination. In a statement posted online, Carroll said he wished Davis well but was “deeply disappointed” by the decision to bypass the nomination process. Former Brantford city councillor Joshua Wall also planned to put his name forward. Wall said he was disappointed not to have the opportunity to run. “But it’s not my time. It’s time to stand united and it’s time to stand behind a strong candidate. And I believe in my friend, Kevin,” Wall said. Davis has served as Brantford’s mayor since 2018 and is not seeking re-election in this fall’s municipal election. Why was Davis chosen? The Conservative Party said Davis was selected under the party’s rules to ensure a candidate was in place and ready to campaign. “To ensure a candidate was in place and ready to hit the ground running, the Conservative Party exercised its authority under the party’s rules to select Kevin Davis as our candidate for Brantford-Brant South,” the party explained in an email to CTV News. It went on to say Davis was “overwhelmingly endorsed” by the riding association’s president, Brock’s former campaign manager and two of the candidates for mayor. “We are thrilled to have Kevin on our team,” the Conservative Party’s email continued. “His extensive experience in public service, deep roots in Brantford and proven commitment to the community make him an outstanding candidate. Kevin is focused on fighting for a safer, more affordable future for the families of Brantford-Brant South.” “This is going to be a challenging byelection” Davis said the decision to enter federal politics came together quickly. He had been preparing to take a job in another city before Poilievre called him a few weeks ago. Davis said he saw an opportunity to have a greater impact on issues including affordability and crime at the federal level. “I was getting a bit frustrated that some of the really important issues to the residents in the Brantford area that I really wasn’t able to address as a mayor,” Davis said. Davis said he now wants to bring together members of the Conservative Party, including some who may not have fully supported his appointment. “I’m emphasizing repeatedly the importance of us coming together, that there is a role for everyone in our campaign, a very meaningful role. And I think it’s important. This is going to be a challenging byelection,” Davis said. Brock’s resignation Brock was also in attendance at Sunday’s rally. The federal seat became vacant Friday when Brock formally resigned from the House of Commons after five years as the riding’s MP. Brock announced last month that he planned to leave federal politics and return to work at the office of the Crown prosecutor. A byelection will be called in the Ontario riding, along with others that are currently vacant. The Brantford-Brant South riding includes Brantford and surrounding communities, including parts of Brant County and Six Nations of the Grand River. Brock was first elected in 2021 in the former Brantford-Brant riding and was re-elected in 2025 in the newly established Brantford-Brant South riding. Brock is the seventh MP to leave Poilievre’s caucus over the past year. The date of the federal byelection has not been announced. Davis will remain mayor until the end of his current term in mid-November. He has said his focus will largely shift to the federal campaign after Brantford city council’s meeting next Tuesday. With files from The Canadian Press
