Ben Houchen Re-Elected as Tees Valley Mayor with Reduced Majority

May 3, 2024, 11:28 AM

Conservative Ben Houchen has been re-elected as the Tees Valley Mayor, securing his third term in office. Houchen won with 53.6% of the vote, a decrease from the 73% he garnered in the previous election in 2021. His main opponent, Labour's Chris McEwan, received 41.3% of the vote. The election results show a significant swing from the Conservatives to Labour, with a 16.7% swing noted, suggesting a closing gap between the two parties. Despite the reduced majority, Houchen's victory is seen as a personal triumph and a relief for the Conservative Party amidst other council losses.