Peterborough

Peterborough is one of Canada's most closely watched federal ridings, renowned as a bellwether that has elected a member of the governing party in 19 of 20 general elections since 1957. The riding encompasses the city of Peterborough and the surrounding townships of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, and Cavan Monaghan, combining a small-city urban core with a substantial rural and semi-rural hinterland. In 2025, the bellwether held true once again as the riding flipped from Conservative to Liberal.

Candidates

Emma Harrison (Liberal)* is a third-generation farmer and small-business owner from Selwyn who runs the family farm with her husband Connor, a Peterborough paramedic. A newcomer to electoral politics, Harrison gained a significant social media following on the Threads platform for her political commentary, growing from 200 to nearly 30,000 followers before being acclaimed as the Liberal candidate in March 2025. She unseated the Conservative incumbent.

Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) served as Member of Parliament for Peterborough--Kawartha from 2021 to 2025, having defeated Liberal cabinet minister Maryam Monsef in that election. A Trent University graduate in biology and anthropology, Ferreri worked as a television news anchor at CHEX-DT in Peterborough from 2003 to 2014 before transitioning to marketing consulting and social media content creation. In the Official Opposition, she served as shadow minister for tourism and for families, children, and social development.

Heather Ray (NDP) is a farmer and single mother from Douro-Dummer who holds a Master's degree in international public policy. She previously worked with Peterborough GreenUP, an environmental organization, and was active in the riding association before her nomination in January 2025.

Jazmine Raine (Green Party) stood as the Green Party candidate in the riding.

Jami-Leigh McMaster (People's Party) represented the People's Party of Canada in the contest.

About the Riding

Peterborough's bellwether status stems from its demographic composition, which has historically mirrored the national mix of urban, rural, industrial, and service-sector elements. The city of Peterborough, with a population of roughly 83,000, is a regional centre anchored by Trent University, Fleming College, and Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The Trent-Severn Waterway and the Peterborough Lift Lock--a National Historic Site--give the city a distinctive character tied to its waterways and industrial heritage.

The surrounding townships are predominantly agricultural, with mixed farming, cattle operations, and cash crops. The broader region has attracted retirees and lifestyle migrants drawn to its lakes, rolling hills, and relative proximity to the Greater Toronto Area, contributing to an aging population that is among the oldest in the province.

In 2025, strategic voting played a notable role in the contest, with the NDP vote collapsing as progressive voters consolidated behind the Liberal candidate. Affordability--housing costs, grocery prices, and the cost of living more broadly--dominated the campaign conversation. Healthcare pressures, including emergency department closures and physician shortages, were acute local concerns. The riding's mix of university students, rural farmers, small-business owners, and public-sector workers created a diverse electorate that once again proved itself a barometer of the national mood.