Senedd 2026: Caerdydd Penarth returns historic result

erdydd Penarth returned a historic result for the 2026 Senedd election with high turnout and Wales’ first Green Party Member of Senedd (MS).

Caerdydd Penarth returned a historic result for the 2026 Senedd election with high turnout and Wales’ first Green Party Member of Senedd (MS). 

With a record high turnout of 56.85% turnout and 88,277 valid votes cast the constituency has achieved unprecedented levels of engagement with voters.

Plaid Cymru picked up three of the six seats on offer with 36,136 votes.

Anna Brychan, Kiera Marshall, and Leticia Gonzalez will now enter the Senedd.

Other parties that managed to pick up a seat were the Green Party (12,113), Reform UK (15,525),  and Labour (10,907), electing Anthony Slaughter, Joseph Martin, and Huw Thomas respectively.

Mr Slaughter is the Green Party leader in Wales and Mr Thomas is leader of Cardiff Council leading the authority and its ruling Labour group needing to find someone to replace him.

It represents a historic result from the constituency in which Wales’ historically most-dominant party only managed to pick up the sixth seat on offer.

Mr Slaughter said he was “escatic” and “elated” to be the Green Party’s first MS. His result was announced before the party doubled its tally when Paul Rock was elected in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf.

He added: “This changes everything in Welsh politics. The entire establishment parties have been pushed aside. People have bought into our message of bold politics and hope.”

Newly-elected Plaid Cymru Senedd member Anna Brychan described the results as a “huge privilege and a huge joy”.

She said: “The electors of Caerdydd Penarth have elected three women to advocate on their behalf and to represent them.”

Labour’s only MS for the constituency, Huw Thomas, described the results for Labour as “poor” for both Caerdydd Penarth and nationally but said he was personally “delighted” to have been elected into the Senedd.

Reform’s new MS, Joseph Martin, did not make any comment to the Local Democracy Reporting Service but said he “fundamentally believed in Wales” and “I believe in our potential to do amazing things” during his victory speech.

Other parties that stood in the constituency were the Communist party (211 votes), Conservative party (6,818), Heritage party (198), Liberal Democrats (2,260), Propel (3,471), and Independent candidate Rhys Ab Owen (414).