Monique Taylor secured a commanding lead in trader assessments for second place in the Hamilton East—Stoney Creek provincial by-election due to her established profile as a former NDP MPP for the neighboring Hamilton Mountain riding and the party's strong local organization. The September 3 vote followed Progressive Conservative MPP Neil Lumsden’s retirement, with Taylor nominated in late July and backed by unions such as the United Steelworkers. Official results showed her capturing 32.9 percent, well ahead of the Liberal candidate at 23.5 percent and minor-party contenders below 3 percent, reflecting a 15-point NDP swing in a riding the PCs had held since 2022. Pre-election polling indicated a tight PC-Liberal contest, yet Taylor’s name recognition and consolidation of non-Conservative support produced the observed outcome. Late shifts in turnout or unexpected endorsements could have narrowed the margin, though none materialized.