Plaid wins most seats in Senedd election

Friday, 8 May 2026 22:10

By Ella Groves - ICNN Senedd Reporter

That's it. The election is over and Wales has emerged on the other side of what was arguably it's most important election since devolution began.

Winning 43 seats, Plaid Cymru has emerged as the largest party in the seventh Senedd and made history bringing an end to Labour's monopoly of Welsh politics.

But the challenges are far from over.

Having failed to secure a majority of 48, Plaid is now tasked with determining if they will attempt to form a coalition or govern as a minority government.

Welsh Labour, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, the Wales Green Party, and the Welsh Conservatives have all indicated they would be open to working with Plaid post-election.

But Plaid leader, Rhun ap Iorweth, has previously indicated he would prefer to govern in a minority government, negotiating with individual members as and when support is needed.

So, below you can find everything you need to know about the election results, showcasing the winners, the losers, and everyone in-between.

Bangor Conwy Môn

Rhun ap Iorwerth will be returning to the Senedd this term after taking the first seat in Bangor Conwy Môn.

Plaid won over 21,000 votes equalling a massive 44.9% of the vote share and resulting in three elected members.

Reform UK came in at second with 28.1% of the vote share, 19,440 votes, taking two seats and the Conservatives took third place with 8,555 votes.

Previously an MS for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders has held onto her seat becoming the only Conservative elected in Bangor Conwy Môn.



Gwynedd Maldwyn

The final constituency to declare, Gwynedd Maldwyn saw Plaid Cymru win an astonishing four seats.

Winning 44.2% of the vote share – their largest percentage of the election – Sian Gwenllian, Mabon ap Gwynfor, Beca Brown, and Elwyn Vaughan will all be representing Gwynedd Maldwyn in the seventh Senedd.

Reform UK also won two seats in the new super constituency, electing Andrew Griffin and Claire Johnson-Wood.

Clwyd

Clwyd proved to be Reform UK's biggest breakthrough in North Wales with the party gaining three seats, electing Adrian Mason, Louise Emery, and Thomas Montgomery.

Reform secured over 30% of the vote share with 25,741 votes.

The Welsh Conservatives will also likely count Clwyd as a success, having won their largest vote share of the election at 20.3%.

Darren Millar, the Welsh Tory Leader, managed to keep his seat and will be returning to the Senedd.

Plaid Cymru also won two seats in Clwyd, electing Llyr Gruffydd and Becca Martin.

Fflint Wrecsam

The penultimate constituency to declare their results, Fflint Wrecsam saw Reform UK take first place with 25,349 votes, followed by Plaid Cymru with 18,440.

Both Plaid and Reform secured two seats in the constituency, with Labour and the Tories winning one each.

Welsh Labour's transport secretary Ken Stakes was able to hold onto his seat but culture minister Jack Sargeant fell by the wayside.

Sam Rowlands, the Welsh Conservatives finance spokesperson, will also be returning to the Senedd for the seventh term.

Casnewydd Islwyn

The first constituency to declare, Casnewydd Islwyn, elected one Labour, one Conservative, two Plaid, and two Reform members to the Senedd.

Standing in his first election as a Senedd candidate, Reform UK's Wales leader Dan Thomas secured the first seat on the list, declaring in his victory speech that Reform would be the party to put "people in Wales first".

He is joined by Reform colleague Art Wright who is also being elected to the Senedd for the first time.

A close second behind Reform with 29.7% of the vote share, Plaid Cymru has also come away with two members for Peredur Griffiths and Lyn Ackerman.

Former Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant was re-elected for Welsh Labour, securing fifth place.

Taking the final seat, Natasha Asghar, formerly an MS for South Wales East, held her seat and has been returned to the Senedd as the sole Conservative for the constituency.

Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg

Securing 33.5% of the vote share, Plaid Cymru took the top spot in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg, with Reform a close second.

The constituency elected one Conservative, one Labour, two Plaid, and two Reform members.

Former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, managed to maintain his place in the Senedd winning the fourth seat on the list.

The former Welsh Labour minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy also retained her seat.

Sir Gaerfyrddin

An even split between Plaid Cymru and Reform, as both parties won three seats in Sir Gaerfyrddin.

With 36,160 votes Plaid Cymru came in first, with Reform a distant second with 27,542 votes.

Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price was re-elected along with Cefin Campbell and Nerys Evans, who was previously a Plaid AM from 2007 to 2011

Gareth Beer, Carmelo Colasanto, and Sarah Edwards have been elected for Reform UK.

Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni

Expected to be the first to declare, and then slowed by a tight recount for the sixth seat, Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni elected three members of Plaid Cymru and three members of Reform UK.

Home to some of the highest profile Plaid candidates, Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni saw deputy leader Delyth Jewell and Lindsey Whittle re-elected, alongside newcomer Niamh Salkeld.

Reform also gained three members here, electing Llŷr Powell, Catherine Cullen, and Joshua Kim.

Labour's Alun Davies, who had served as the MS for Blaenau Gwent since 2011, was the first in a string of casualties among former ministers.

Caerdydd Penarth

With more than double the vote share of the second largest party, Plaid Cymru won three seats in Caerdydd Penarth, electing Anna Brychan, Kiera Marshall, and Leticia Gonzalez.

Reform UK came in second with just 17.6% of the vote share, totalling 15,525 votes, electing Joseph Martin to the Senedd.

Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Wales Green Party, made history securing the fourth seat – the Green's first in the Senedd – beating Labour by almost 2,000 votes.

Mr Slaughter said that having a "Green voice in the Senedd" will make a "huge difference" to the political conversation in Wales.

Long-serving Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas took the final seat for Welsh Labour.

Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr

Winning seats one, three, and five, Plaid Cymru racked up another three Senedd Members in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr.

Heledd Fychan, who previously represented the old region of South Wales Central, was re-elected alongside her colleagues Lis McLean and Sara Crowley.

Reform UK won two seats electing Jason O'Connell and David Hughes to the Senedd.

Vikki Howells, who served as Minister for Further and Higher Education in the last Welsh Labour administration, will also return to the Senedd having secured the sixth seat on the list.

High-profile independent candidate Beth Winter, who is a former Welsh Labour MP and a member of Your Party failed to gain a seat, winning just 3.2% of the vote share.

Afan Ogwr Rhondda

Despite a loss for now ex-First Minister Eluned Morgan, Welsh Labour's deputy leader Huw Irranca-Davies managed to keep hold of his seat securing fifth place.

Plaid Cymru took seats one, three, and six, with 24,538 votes electing Sera Evans, Alun Cox, and Elyn Stephens.

Reform UK also picked up two seats for Benjamin McKenna or Steve Bayliss with 33.6% of the vote share, or 22,345 votes.

Sir Fynwy Torfaen

Beating Plaid Cymru by nearly 6,000 votes, Reform have two Members of the Senedd from the Sir Fynwy Torfaen constituency.

Laura Anne Jones, who defected to Reform in 2025, has held her seat and was elected alongside Stephen John.

Yet Plaid Cymru still managed to secure two seats, electing Matthew Jones and Donna Cushing.

The Welsh Conservatives picked up another member, electing Peter Fox who was previously the MS for Monmouth.

One of just two politicians elected in 1999 running in this years election, Lynne Neagle has once again defended her seat and will be returning for the seventh Senedd term.

Ms Neagle picked up the fifth seat in the constituency with 15% of the vote share – 11,672 votes.

Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf

Once again taking the first seat, Plaid Cymru scored over 30,000 votes giving them a vote share of 37% in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf.

The party won three seats electing Dafydd Trystan, Zaynub Akbar, and Nick Carter.

The Greens also made gains in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf picking up their second seat of the election for Paul Rock.

The other seats were taken by Reform UK's Cai Tomos-Parry Jones and Welsh Labour's Shav Taj./


Ceredigion Penfro

Perhaps the most anticipated result of the election Ceredigion Penfro, - the seat of the now former First Minister Eluned Morgan - elected one Conservative, two Reform, and three Plaid Cymru members to the Senedd.

With Welsh Labour receiving just 7.3% of the vote share, or 6,495 votes, Baroness Morgan resigned as leader of Welsh Labour following her defeat, becoming the first leader of a government in the UK to lose their seat while in office.

Ceredigion Penfro however is also the seat of one of just two politicians elected in 1999 to be standing in the 2026 election.

Elin Jones, who held the role of Lywydd in the sixth Senedd, held her seat being elected alongside her Plaid colleagues Kerry Ferguson and Anna Nicholl.

Former Welsh Tory Senedd leader, Paul Davies, will also be making a return to the Senedd, while Reform are represented by Susan Archibald and Paul Marr.

Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd

Becoming the only constituency to elect a Liberal Democrat candidate, Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd saw the Welsh Lib Dems leader Jane Dodds, successfully defend her seat.

The constituency also elected two Plaid Cymru and three Reform members, with Reform taking first place.

James Evans, who defected to Reform just months before the election, will be returning to the Senedd along with his party colleagues Ian McIntosh and David Mills.

Sioned Williams is back for Plaid, alongside Rebeca Phillips.

How will the new Senedd look?

The 2026 Senedd election has been an election defined by changes, from the number of MSs to the voting system to constituency names, but the biggest change is undoubtedly the set up of the new Senedd.

Plaid Cymru is now the largest party with 43 seats – just shy of a majority of 49 – and Reform UK will form the official opposition with 34 seats.

With now just nine seats, Welsh Labour has been transformed by this election from a governing party to a minor party in a matter of days.

The Welsh Conservatives have also been knocked out of place by this election, with the party now having only seven seats.

For the Welsh Greens this election has been historic. The party have gained their first ever seats in the Senedd, with two candidates elected.

The only party for which this election has provided few changes is the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Party leader Jane Dodds was the only Lib Dem Member of the Senedd prior to the election and she remains the sole Lib Dem member now.

What formation the Welsh Government will take for this Senedd term however is still unknown.

Having failed to win a majority Plaid Cymru will now have to decide whether they form a coalition with another party or govern alone as a minority government.

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