Rob Cooper is running for the Hamilton mayor’s seat in the 2026 municipal election, and the Ward 8 councillor says he wants to get practical.

“There’s too much ideology at City Hall right now, and that’s got to end. It’s got to be practical and pragmatic,” Cooper said in an interview with FlamboroughToday.

If elected mayor, Cooper said he wants to tackle crime, fix up Hamilton’s roads, add another lane on the Red Hill Expressway and turn the city into an “economic engine.”

Cooper is one of five candidates to announce their bid for Hamilton mayor since declarations opened on May 1. He is joined on the ballot so far by Scarlett Gillespie, Sasha Austin, Ejaz Butt and Keanin Loomis.

Mayor Andrea Horwath has not officially declared that she is running for re-election, but has suggested that is the plan in previous interviews with FlamboroughToday.

Cooper said if he’s elected mayor he would look at future investments and spending aimed at supporting homeless residents and will try to cap future tax increases to the rate of inflation.

“There’s other people who are running on the same platform as the mayor, saying they’re going to spend it better,” Cooper said.

Cooper became Ward 8 councillor in late September 2025, after his predecessor, John-Paul Danko, was elected MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas during the federal election.

Before taking office, Cooper was a consultant and executive, working with Stelco, McMaster’s Innovation Park and TD Bank. He said he would like to bring his business knowledge to the City of Hamilton as mayor.

When it comes to the rural areas of Hamilton, Cooper said he is firmly against stormwater management fees and would like to see more recreation centres in the smaller, rural communities. Work is currently underway for a recreation centre in Waterdown, near Harry Howell Twin Pad Arena. 

“Our biggest challenge right now is youth crime, and so we need these rec centres in place,” he said.