# Durham County Council elections

Durham County Council elections are held every four years. Durham County Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of County Durham. Since becoming a unitary authority, 126 councillors have been elected from 63 wards.

## County council elections

| Election | Labour | Conservative | Liberal Democrat | Independent | Total |
| 1973 | 56 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 72 |
| 1977 | 41 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 72 |
| 1981 | 53 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 72 |
| 1985 | 50 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 72 |
| 1989 | 56 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 72 |
| 1993 | 56 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 72 |
| 1997 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 61 |
| 2001 | 53 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 61 |
| 2005 | 53 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 63 |
| 2008 | 67 | 10 | 27 | 22 | 126 |
| 2013 | 94 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 126 |
| 2017 | 74 | 10 | 14 | 28 | 126 |
| 2021 | 53 | 24 | 17 | 32 | 126 |
| 2025 | | | | | 98 |

## County result maps

* 2005 results map
* 2008 results map
* 2013 results map
* 2017 results map
* 2021 results map

## District council elections

Prior to the formation of the unitary authority in 2009, the county was divided into a number of second tier districts. The following articles detail the local elections to those district councils. The Borough of Darlington has formed a unitary authority outside the area covered by the County Council since 1997.
* Chester-le-Street District Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Durham City Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Darlington Borough Council elections, 1973 – 1997 (unitary authority 1997 – present)
* Derwentside District Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Easington District Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Sedgefield Borough Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Teesdale District Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)
* Wear Valley District Council elections, 1973 – 2009 (council abolished)

## By-election results

The following is an incomplete list of by-elections to Durham County Council.

### 1997-2008

Bishop Auckland Town By-Election 30 March 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 689 | 42.9 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | | 601 | 37.4 | −21.0 |
| | Conservative | | 318 | 19.8 | +19.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 88 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,608 | 22.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Burnopfield and Dipton By-Election 28 November 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Reginald Ord | 519 | 37.2 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | | 500 | 35.8 | −18.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 322 | 23.1 | +23.1 |
| | Conservative | | 54 | 3.9 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 1.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,395 | 22.0 | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Stanley By-Election 17 July 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Leslie Vaux | 1,702 | 56.1 | −20.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Rolfe | 566 | 18.7 | +4.3 |
| | BNP | Dean McAdam | 509 | 16.8 | +16.8 |
| | Conservative | Stuart Tilney | 256 | 8.4 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,136 | 37.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,033 | 46.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Woodhouse Close By-Election 26 February 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Lethbridge | 1,538 | 66.3 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jody Dunn | 782 | 33.7 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 756 | 32.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,320 | 43.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Durham South By-Election 26 January 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Abiodun Williams | 834 | 51.6 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Isobell Lunan | 561 | 34.7 | −9.1 |
| | Conservative | Michael Fishwick | 220 | 13.6 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 16.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,615 | 34.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Framwellgate Moor By-Election 8 June 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Burlison | 1,187 | 43.4 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Redvers Crooks | 1,037 | 37.9 | −2.9 |
| | Independent | Ian Rutland | 267 | 9.8 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Wynne | 245 | 9.0 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,737 | 37.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Dawden By-Election 19 October 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edwin Mason | 775 | 84.0 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | Lucille Nicholson | 148 | 16.0 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 68.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 923 | 18.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Ouston and Urpeth By-Election 30 November 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Colin Carr | 665 | 57.7 | −2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sean Kilkenny | 487 | 42.3 | +19.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 15.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,152 | 18.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 2008-2013

Barnard Castle East By-Election 4 June 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Rowlandson | 1,263 | 46.9 | +4.2 |
| | Independent | Anthony Cooke | 634 | 23.5 | −20.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Newlands | 479 | 17.8 | +17.8 |
| | Labour | Sharon Longcroft | 319 | 11.8 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 629 | 23.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,695 | 38.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Easington By-Election 11 February 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Barker | 702 | 55.8 | −8.3 |
| | Independent | Terry Murray | 311 | 24.7 | +24.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carole Harrison | 126 | 10.0 | −25.9 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Reid | 120 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 391 | 31.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,259 | 20.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Brandon By-Election 30 September 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Turnbull | 1,204 | 64.0 | +13.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maureen Smith | 538 | 28.6 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | Mark Krajewski | 140 | 7.4 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 666 | 35.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,882 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Deneside By-Election 14 October 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jennifer Bell | 917 | 82.4 | +26.1 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Reid | 196 | 17.6 | +17.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 721 | 64.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,113 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Peterlee West By-Election 21 June 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jimmy Alvey | 767 | 70.1 | +25.7 |
| | Independent | Karen Hawley | 181 | 16.5 | +16.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Bentley | 99 | 9.0 | −46.6 |
| | Conservative | Harvey Morgan | 47 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 586 | 53.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,094 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### 2013-2017

Crook by-election, 7 November 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Andrea Patterson | 741 | 40.3 |
| | Independent | Ian Hirst | 496 | 27.0 |
| | Wear Valley Independent Group | John Bailey | 360 | 19.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David English | 145 | 7.9 |
| | Conservative | Beaty Bainbridge | 54 | 2.9 |
| | Green | Joanne Yelland | 41 | 2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1837 | 18.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Crook by-election, 18 September 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maureen Stanton | 753 | 46.8 | +16.0 |
| | UKIP | Betty Hopson | 339 | 21.1 | +21.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David English | 233 | 14.5 | +7.6 |
| | Independent | Tony Simpson | 193 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| | Conservative | Alan Booth | 90 | 5.6 | +5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 25.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,608 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Burnopfield and Dipton by-election, 23 October 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joanne Carr | 656 | 44.9 | +6.8 |
| | Derwentside Independents | Gill Burnett | 655 | 44.8 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | Alan Booth | 83 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| | Green | Melanie Howd | 68 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,462 | | |
| | Labour gain from Derwentside Independents | Labour gain from Derwentside Independents | Swing | | |
Evenwood by-election, 23 October 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Heather Smith | 546 | 38.2 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Hugill | 396 | 27.7 | −0.3 |
| | UKIP | Ben Casey | 309 | 21.6 | −4.4 |
| | Independent | Lee Carnighan | 108 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Greg Robinson | 72 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 10.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,431 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Barnard Castle West by-election, 7 May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Henderson | 2,518 | 57.6 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Thomas Robinson | 972 | 22.3 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Philip Hunt | 878 | 20.1 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,546 | 35.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,368 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ferryhill by-election, 7 May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Lindsay | 2,266 | 49.8 | +14.8 |
| | Independent | Joseph Makepeace | 1,969 | 43.3 | +43.3 |
| | Green | William Lawrence | 316 | 6.9 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 6.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,551 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Sherburn by-election, 7 May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Kellett | 2,218 | 52.5 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | Michael Fishwick | 965 | 22.9 | +13.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Tibbs | 531 | 12.6 | −19.1 |
| | Green | Joanna Smith | 508 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,253 | 29.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,222 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Willington and Hunwick by-election, 7 May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fraser Tinsley | 2,169 | 54.5 | +8.5 |
| | Independent | Matthew Todd | 1,512 | 38.0 | +38.0 |
| | Green | Mark Quinn | 301 | 7.6 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 657 | 16.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,982 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Shotton and South Hetton by-election, 20 August 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Liversidge | 595 | 52.5 | +9.4 |
| | North East | Ted Hall | 214 | 18.9 | +18.9 |
| | UKIP | Lee-James Harris | 131 | 11.6 | +11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Anderson | 107 | 9.4 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | Beaty Bainbridge | 67 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Martie Warin | 19 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 381 | 33.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,133 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 2017-2021

Dawdon by-election, 29 June 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Leanne Kennedy | 693 | 52.3 | +6.2 |
| | Seaham Community Party | Robert Arthur | 633 | 47.7 | +10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 4.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,329 | 21.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Trimdon and Thornley by-election, 28 September 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jude Grant | 1,150 | 65.4 | +15.2 |
| | Independent | Maurice Brown | 351 | 20.0 | +20.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Bell | 117 | 6.7 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Smith | 112 | 6.4 | −12.7 |
| | Green | Jonathan Elmer | 29 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 799 | 45.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,759 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Wingate by-election, 14 March 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Higgins | 458 | 64.1 | −9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edwin Simpson | 163 | 22.8 | +20.1 |
| | North East | Stephen Miles | 74 | 10.3 | +0.3 |
| | For Britain | Gareth Fry | 20 | 2.8 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 41.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 715 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Esh and Witton Gilbert by-election, 21 March 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beverley Coult | 1,115 | 63.2 | +7.8 |
| | Labour | Anne Bonner | 366 | 20.7 | −7.0 |
| | Independent | Ryan Drion | 155 | 8.8 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative | Richard Lawrie | 128 | 7.3 | −9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 749 | 42.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,764 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Shildon and Dene Valley by-election, 2 May 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Huntington | 1,257 | 42.7 | +21.5 |
| | Labour | Samantha Townsend | 682 | 23.2 | −7.2 |
| | UKIP | Alan Breeze | 456 | 15.5 | +3.4 |
| | Independent | Robert Ingledew | 415 | 14.1 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Marie Carter-Robb | 131 | 4.5 | −10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 19.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,941 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Spennymoor by-election, 2 May 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ian Geldard | 489 | 18.7 | +18.7 |
| | Labour | Colin Nelson | 420 | 16.1 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Jones | 373 | 14.3 | −6.0 |
| | Independent | Billy McAloon | 358 | 13.7 | +13.7 |
| | Independent | Pete Molloy | 332 | 12.7 | −2.1 |
| | UKIP | Bob Purvis | 281 | 10.8 | +4.4 |
| | Spennymoor Independents | Ronald Highley | 221 | 8.5 | −19.6 |
| | Conservative | James Cosslett | 137 | 5.2 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,611 | | |
| | Independent gain from Spennymoor Independents | Independent gain from Spennymoor Independents | Swing | | |

### 2021-2025

Ferryhill by-election, 24 February 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Curtis Bihari | 876 | 41.3 | +6.4 |
| | Independent | Glenys Newby | 528 | 24.9 | +24.9 |
| | Conservative | David Farry | 348 | 16.4 | −11.9 |
| | Independent | Joseph Makepeace | 166 | 7.8 | +7.8 |
| | Green | Rebecca Dixon-McWaters | 165 | 7.8 | +7.8 |
| | Freedom Alliance | Kaela Banthorpe | 23 | 1.3 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Thorkildsen | 9 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 348 | 16.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,120 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
West Auckland by-election, 14 April 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Smith | 956 | 56.3 | +12.2 |
| | Conservative | Lyndsey Fox | 554 | 32.6 | −10.2 |
| | Independent | Nick Brown | 187 | 11.0 | +11.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 23.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,697 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Chester-le-Street East by-election, 14 April 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julie Scurfield | 716 | 59.8 | +28.9 |
| | Conservative | Allan Bainbridge | 439 | 36.6 | −4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Russell Haswell | 43 | 3.6 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 277 | 23.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,198 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Dawdon by-election, 30 November 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | June Watson | 514 | 55.9 | +5.4 |
| | Independent | Bob Arthur | 339 | 36.9 | +36.9 |
| | Conservative | Josh Rayner | 56 | 6.1 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Vila | 10 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 175 | 19.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 919 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Horden by-election, 2 May 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | June Clark | 852 | 76.2 | +8.3 |
| | North East | Robert Fishwick | 180 | 16.1 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative | George Carter | 66 | 5.9 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Thompson | 20 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 672 | 60.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,118 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Coxhoe by-election, 4 July 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Viv Anderson | 2,479 | 43.5 | +9.9 |
| | Independent | Jamie Peterson | 1,257 | 22.1 | +22.1 |
| | Independent | Stuart Dunn | 938 | 16.5 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Peeke | 705 | 12.4 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Jones | 318 | 5.6 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,222 | 21.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,697 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |