Hamilton Mountain

Hamilton Mountain was a tight contest in 2025, with Liberal incumbent Lisa Hepfner defending the seat she had narrowly won in 2021 against strong challenges from both the Conservatives and the NDP. Hepfner ultimately held on, winning by a margin of three to four percentage points over Conservative challenger Ken Hewitt.

Candidates

Lisa Hepfner (Liberal)* -- A former journalist with CHCH News and The Hamilton Spectator, Hepfner pivoted from media to politics in 2021, when she flipped Hamilton Mountain for the Liberals by defeating the NDP candidate by just 835 votes. She sought a second term in 2025 on the strength of her parliamentary record.

Ken Hewitt (Conservative) -- A three-term mayor of Haldimand County first elected in 2010, Hewitt brought executive governance experience to his federal bid. He ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and economic development, citing his record of improving Haldimand's economic position during his time as mayor. He also served as a part-time member of the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Monique Taylor (NDP) -- A veteran provincial politician, Taylor served as the NDP member of provincial parliament for Hamilton Mountain from 2011 to 2025, winning four consecutive provincial elections. She served as the NDP's critic for children and youth services and for accessibility and persons with disabilities at Queen's Park before making the jump to federal politics.

Bing Wong (People's Party - PPC) -- The People's Party candidate in Hamilton Mountain.

Rolf Gerstenberger (Marxist-Leninist) -- The Marxist-Leninist Party candidate in Hamilton Mountain.

About the Riding

Hamilton Mountain sits atop the Niagara Escarpment, the dramatic geological ridge that divides Hamilton into its lower and upper city. The riding stretches from the escarpment's edge southward to the transmission corridor near Rymal Road, encompassing a mix of established post-war neighbourhoods, newer suburban developments, and pockets of social housing.

With a population of roughly 116,000, the riding is socioeconomically diverse. It includes both million-dollar homes and low-income public housing, highly paid unionized workers and recent immigrants in entry-level positions. About 30 per cent of residents identify as visible minorities, and the median household income of $85,000 sits near the provincial average.

Hamilton Mountain has been one of the most competitive ridings in the Hamilton area for over a decade, swinging between the NDP and Liberals at both the provincial and federal levels. The three-way dynamic between Liberal, Conservative, and NDP voters made it a bellwether for broader political trends in 2025. Affordability, healthcare, and the future of Hamilton's industrial economy were the dominant campaign themes, with all three major-party candidates vying for the support of the riding's large working- and middle-class population.