**Cardiff Council Leader Huw Thomas to Seek Labour Nomination for 2026 Senedd Election**
Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas has officially revealed his intention to seek selection as a Labour candidate for the Senedd elections due to take place in 2026. His announcement marks a significant development in the build-up to the next Welsh parliamentary contest, signalling a potential change in the city’s political landscape.
Councillor Thomas, who has led Cardiff Council since 2017, had previously avoided clarifying his stance regarding a prospective Senedd bid when questioned in September 2024. However, at a recent public event marking the construction progress of new council flats in Grangetown, Cllr Thomas confirmed his plans to stand: “I will be putting my name forward for consideration, yes,” he told reporters.
His decision to seek the Labour nomination comes as all four current Cardiff-based Labour Members of the Senedd (MSs) have publicly confirmed they will not be seeking re-election in 2026. This wave of departures paves the way for a new generation of Labour politicians to step into the spotlight in Wales’ capital city.
Since first being elected as a councillor for the Splott ward in 2012, Thomas has been a prominent local government figure. He became Cardiff’s youngest council leader at the age of 31, and hails originally from Aberystwyth. His rapid rise through the local political ranks has placed him at the heart of major city initiatives and strategic decisions during a transformative period for Cardiff.
The current Senedd member for Cardiff West, Mark Drakeford, is particularly well-known for his tenure as First Minister throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Drakeford, who now serves as cabinet secretary for finance and Welsh language, had previously announced he will not stand again, ending a significant chapter in Cardiff West’s political history.
Elsewhere in Cardiff, the seat of Cardiff South and Penarth has also witnessed considerable upheaval. Vaughan Gething, who succeeded Drakeford as First Minister, stepped down from the post just four months into his leadership amid controversy around leadership contest donations. He followed this with a September 2024 announcement stating he too will not seek re-election in the upcoming contest.
Long-serving members Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central) and Julie Morgan (Cardiff North) have likewise declared their intentions to step aside. Both have played influential roles within committees and policy debates, with Morgan also spending over a decade as MP for Cardiff North prior to her work in the Senedd.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Senedd election will be notable not only for the changing faces among Cardiff candidates but also for sweeping reforms set to reshape Welsh parliamentary democracy. For the first time, voters will cast their ballots under a reformed voting system, while the Senedd will expand from 60 to 96 members. Additionally, new criteria stipulate that all candidates must be resident in Wales, and the election will take place across 16 newly configured constituencies.
With these reforms and the retirement of several high-profile Cardiff MSs, the selection races within local party branches are expected to become highly competitive in the months ahead. Political observers point to such developments as an opportunity for new voices and perspectives to influence Welsh policy-making at a crucial juncture for the devolved legislature.
In offering himself as a candidate, Huw Thomas positions himself as a key figure to watch, particularly as Labour seeks to maintain its influence in the capital amidst considerable personnel change. As the party prepares its slate of candidates in anticipation of May 2026, the attention will remain focused on how these shifts may impact both local governance in Cardiff and the broader Welsh political landscape.