The next Senedd election is due to be held on or before 7 May 2026[1] to elect 96 members to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh: Senedd Cymru). It will be the seventh devolved general election since the Senedd (formerly the National Assembly for Wales) was established in 1999. If held in 2026 it will also be the first election following current reforms to the voting system, which would increase the size of the Senedd from 60 members to 96, adopting a party-list voting system, reducing the number of constituencies to sixteen, and shortening its term from five years to four.[2][3] It will also be the second election since the Senedd changed its name in May 2020.
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All 96 seats to the Senedd 49 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Retiring members
editThe following MSs have announced their intention not run for re-election:
| MS | Constituency/Region | First elected | Party | Date announced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Drakeford | Cardiff West | 2011 | Welsh Labour | 9 August 2023[4] | |
| Vaughan Gething | Cardiff South and Penarth | 2011 | Welsh Labour | 7 September 2024[5] | |
| Lee Waters | Llanelli | 2016 | Welsh Labour | 24 October 2024[6] | |
Electoral system
editIn all prior elections since its establishment as the Welsh Assembly in 1999, the Senedd has been elected through the additional member system, under which 40 out of 60 seats were elected by the first past the post system from single-member constituencies (the same as those used for Westminster), while the remaining 20 were attributed regionally (in 5 regions of 4 seats) on the basis of a second vote for a closed party list of candidates. The additional member seats in each region were allocated from the lists by the D'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.
Following the approval of the Senedd Reform Act, the size of the Senedd will be increased from 60 to 96 MSs, all elected through closed party list proportional representation (using the D'Hondt method). The elections will be organised in 16 six-member constituencies created by pairing up the 32 redrawn Westminster constituencies.[7][8]
Although the new system would only be ready and used for elections held after 6 April 2026, to allow time for the new constituencies to be drawn up.[9] The next election is due to be held on 7 May 2026.[10]
Another proposed reform bill would have provided for mandatory "zipping" of male and female candidates in the list to ensure that for every party, half of the Members will be women. However, this bill was scrapped in September 2024.[11]
Opinion polling
edit
| Dates conducted |
Pollster | Client | Sample size |
Lab | Con | Plaid Cymru | Green | Lib Dems | AWA | Reform | Others | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct – 4 Nov 2024 | Survation[s 1] | Reform UK | 2,006 | 29% | 18% | 20% | 7% | 7% | – | 19% | 1% | 9 |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Eluned Morgan becomes First Minister of Wales | |||||||||||
| 5–18 Jul 2024 | Welsh Election Study | N/A | 2,565 | 25% | 16% | 24% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 16% | 1% | 1 |
| 27 Jun – 1 Jul 2024 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,072 | 27% | 18% | 23% | 5% | 6% | – | 18% | 3% | 4 |
| 5–7 Jun 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 960 | 36% | 22% | 18% | 6% | 6% | 2% | 11% | 0% | 14 |
| 30 May – 3 Jun 2024 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,066 | 30% | 19% | 23% | 6% | 6% | – | 12% | 4% | 7 |
| 18–19 May 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 900 | 37% | 20% | 20% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 10% | 0% | 17 |
| 8 May 2024 | The Senedd Reform Act is approved, implementing a new one-list electoral system by 2026. | |||||||||||
| 6 May 2021 | 2021 Senedd election (regional)[12] | – | 36.2% | 25.1% | 20.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 4.5% | 11.1 | |
| 6 May 2021 | 2021 Senedd election (constituency)[12] | – | 39.9% | 26.1% | 20.3% | 1.6% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 4.0% | 13.8 | |
Past opinion polling
editThe following polls used questions designed for the two forms of voting in previous Senedd elections, that are to be abolished in the next Senedd election planned for 2026.
Regional vote
edit| Dates conducted |
Pollster | Client | Sample size |
Lab | Con | Plaid Cymru | Green | Lib Dems | AWA | UKIP | Reform | Others | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2024 | The Senedd Reform Act receives Royal assent, abolishing the additional member system by 2026. | ||||||||||||
| 22–23 Apr 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 840 | 33% | 18% | 19% | 6% | 7% | 4% | – | 12% | 1% | 14 |
| 23–24 Mar 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 878 | 32% | 16% | 18% | 9% | 7% | 6% | – | 11% | 1% | 14 |
| 20 Mar 2024 | Vaughan Gething becomes First Minister of Wales[13] | ||||||||||||
| 18 Feb 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 874 | 29% | 16% | 25% | 4% | 8% | 7% | – | 10% | 1% | 4 |
| 24–26 Jan 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,100 | 34% | 19% | 21% | 6% | 6% | 6% | – | 7% | 1% | 13 |
| 10–11 Dec 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,086 | 28% | 20% | 24% | 7% | 8% | 4% | – | 7% | 1% | 4 |
| 12–13 Nov 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,100 | 32% | 21% | 18% | 9% | 6% | 5% | – | 7% | 1% | 11 |
| 14–15 Oct 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 959 | 31% | 21% | 24% | 4% | 5% | 7% | – | 8% | – | 10 |
| 16–17 Sep 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,172 | 35% | 21% | 18% | 6% | 12% | 2% | – | 5% | 1% | 14 |
| 1–6 Sep 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,051 | 34% | 16% | 20% | 6% | 6% | 9% | 1% | 6% | 2% | 14 |
| 13–14 Aug 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,068 | 31% | 19% | 22% | 6% | 10% | – | – | 10% | 3% | 9 |
| 14–16 Jul 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,050 | 33% | 20% | 19% | 6% | 10% | – | – | 6% | 4% | 13 |
| 17–18 Jun 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,000 | 30% | 22% | 20% | 6% | 9% | – | – | 8% | 4% | 8 |
| 1 Jun 2023 | Rhun ap Iorwerth becomes Leader of Plaid Cymru | ||||||||||||
| 12–17 May 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,064 | 36% | 16% | 18% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 7% | 1% | 18 |
| 14–15 May 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,058 | 30% | 21% | 24% | 4% | 10% | – | – | 8% | 4% | 6 |
| 15–17 Apr 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,251 | 32% | 22% | 23% | 7% | 8% | – | – | 7% | 2% | 9 |
| 3–7 Feb 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,081 | 39% | 18% | 20% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 0% | 6% | 1% | 19 |
| 25 Nov – 1 Dec 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,042 | 38% | 16% | 23% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 2% | 4% | 2%
Gwlad on 1% Other on 1% |
15 |
| 20–22 Sep 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,014 | 37% | 18% | 21% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 16 |
| 12–16 Jun 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,020 | 31% | 21% | 24% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 2% | 6% | 2%
Gwlad on 1% Other on 1% |
7 |
| 25 Feb – 1 Mar 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,086 | 34% | 23% | 20% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 1% | 3% | 2%
Gwlad on 1% Other on 1% |
11 |
| 13–16 Dec 2021 | YouGov | ITV Wales | 1,009 | 35% | 22% | 19% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 2% | 5% | 1% | 13 |
| 13–16 Sep 2021 | YouGov | ITV Wales | 1,057 | 33% | 26% | 19% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 7 |
| 6 May 2021 | 2021 Senedd election[12] | – | 36.2% | 25.1% | 20.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 2.9% | 11.1 | |
Constituency vote
edit
| Dates conducted |
Pollster | Client | Sample size |
Lab | Con | Plaid Cymru | Lib Dems | AWA | Green | Reform | Other | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May 2024 | The Senedd Reform Act is approved, abolishing the additional member system by 2026. | |||||||||||
| 22–23 Apr 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 840 | 37% | 21% | 22% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 10% | 0% | 15 |
| 23–24 Mar 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 878 | 36% | 21% | 21% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 11% | 1% | 15 |
| 20 Mar 2024 | Vaughan Gething becomes First Minister of Wales[13] | |||||||||||
| 18 Feb 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 874 | 34% | 21% | 19% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 13% | 0% | 13 |
| 24–26 Jan 2024 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,100 | 39% | 25% | 18% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 1% | 14 |
| 10–11 Dec 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,086 | 41% | 22% | 17% | 7% | 3% | 3% | 7% | 0% | 19 |
| 12–13 Nov 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,100 | 40% | 23% | 18% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 7% | 1% | 17 |
| 14–15 Oct 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 959 | 37% | 27% | 18% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 6% | - | 10 |
| 16–17 Sep 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,172 | 39% | 27% | 18% | 5% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 1% | 12 |
| 1–6 Sep 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,051 | 41% | 18% | 19% | 6% | – | 4% | 8% | 7% | 22 |
| 13–14 Aug 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,068 | 37% | 21% | 20% | 6% | – | 3% | 9% | 4% | 16 |
| 14–16 Jul 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,050 | 42% | 22% | 16% | 6% | – | 3% | 7% | 3% | 20 |
| 17–18 Jun 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,000 | 36% | 22% | 19% | 7% | – | 3% | 10% | 3% | 14 |
| 12–17 May 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,064 | 40% | 18% | 17% | 7% | – | 5% | 8% | 4% | 22 |
| 14–15 May 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,058 | 38% | 23% | 20% | 7% | – | 3% | 7% | 2% | 15 |
| 15–17 Apr 2023 | Redfield & Wilton | N/A | 1,251 | 41% | 21% | 20% | 5% | – | 4% | 8% | 2% | 20 |
| 3–7 Feb 2023 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,081 | 43% | 18% | 20% | 4% | – | 4% | 9% | 1% | 23 |
| 25 Nov – 1 Dec 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,042 | 44% | 17% | 20% | 6% | – | 3% | 7% | 4% | 24 |
| 20–22 Sep 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,014 | 40% | 20% | 22% | 6% | – | 3% | 5% | 4% | 18 |
| 12–16 Jun 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,020 | 37% | 24% | 21% | 6% | – | 5% | 5% | 3% | 13 |
| 25 Feb – 1 Mar 2022 | YouGov | Barn Cymru | 1,086 | 38% | 24% | 21% | 6% | – | 3% | 5% | 4% | 14 |
| 13–16 Dec 2021 | YouGov | ITV Wales | 1,009 | 40% | 23% | 17% | 4% | – | 5% | 7% | 4% | 17 |
| 13–16 Sep 2021 | YouGov | ITV Wales | 1,057 | 37% | 27% | 19% | 5% | – | 4% | 5% | 5% | 10 |
| 6 May 2021 | 2021 Senedd election[12] | – | 39.9% | 26.1% | 20.3% | 4.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 4.0% | 13.8 | |
Notes
edit- ^ Survation asked voters to give their preferences under the current Additional Member System. The figure shown in this table is the proportional (regional) vote, as that is the closest equivalent to the new party list system.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Owens, Cathy (8 September 2021). "What to expect from the next five years in Welsh politics". WalesOnline. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Mansfield, Mark (8 May 2024). "MSs approve Senedd reform bill". Nation.Cymru.
- ^ Browne, Adrian; Deans, David (8 May 2024). "Senedd expansion plans get go-ahead in Cardiff Bay vote". BBC Wales.
- ^ "Mark Drakeford to quit Senedd at next election". BBC News. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Former Welsh first minister Vaughan Gething to stand down at next election". The Guardian. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Wales' 20mph minister to step down in 2026". BBC News. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Plans for more Senedd politicians get go-ahead". BBC News. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Senedd reform | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024". legislation.gov.uk.
- ^ "See exactly when the next election in Wales will be". South Wales Argus. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Browne, Adrian (24 September 2024). "Senedd backs U-turn on election gender quotas". BBC News. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Davies, Owain; Holzinger, Owen; McCarthy, Joanne; Jones, Helen (2021). Senedd Election 2021: Research Briefing (PDF). Senedd Research. p. 16.
- ^ a b "Vaughan Gething confirmed as Wales' new first minister". BBC News. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.