# Braid (District Electoral Area)

Braid is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland. The district elects seven members to Mid and East Antrim District Council and contains the wards of Ballee and Harryville, Broughshane, Glenravel, Glenwhirry, Kells, Kirkinriola and Slemish. Braid forms part of the North Antrim constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1993 local elections, where it contained five wards (Broughshane, Craigywarren, Glenravel, Glenwhirry and Slemish), replacing the Braid Valley DEA which had existed since 1985. For the 2014 local elections it gained two additional wards, gaining Ballee and Harryville and Kells from the abolished Ballymena South DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Chelsea Harwood (Alliance) | Alan Barr (UUP) | Archie Rae (Sinn Féin) | Beth Adger (DUP) | Christopher Jamieson (TUV) | | William McCaughey (DUP) | | Matthew Warwick (TUV) |
| October 2020 Co-Option | David Reid (Alliance) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Julie Frew (DUP) | Beth Adger (DUP) | Christopher Jamieson (TUV) | | William McCaughey (DUP) | | Brian Collins (TUV) |
| 2019 | Muriel Burnside (Alliance) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Julie Frew (DUP) | Beth Adger (DUP) | Christopher Jamieson (TUV) | | William McCaughey (DUP) | | Brian Collins (TUV) |
| August 2016 Defection | Paul Maguire (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Beth Clyde (DUP) | Beth Adger (DUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | | William McCaughey (DUP) | | Brian Collins (TUV) |
| 2014 | Paul Maguire (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Beth Clyde (DUP) | Beth Adger (DUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | | William McCaughey (DUP) | | Brian Collins (TUV) |
| 2011 | Paul Maguire (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Beth Clyde (DUP) | Paul Frew (DUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 |
| 2005 | Margaret Gribben (SDLP) | Robin Cherry (UUP) | Robin Stirling (DUP) | Paul Frew (DUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 |
| 2001 | Margaret Gribben (SDLP) | Lexie Scott (UUP) | Robin Stirling (DUP) | David Clyde (UUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1997 | Margaret Gribben (SDLP) | Lexie Scott (UUP) | Desmond Armstrong (UUP) | David Clyde (UUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1993 | David McClintock (DUP) | Robert Forsythe (UUP) | Desmond Armstrong (UUP) | David Clyde (UUP) | Samuel Hanna (DUP) | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 | 5 seats 1993–2014 |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x TUV, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x TUV, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP
Braid - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Sinn Féin | Archie Rae | 13.76% | 1,302 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Beth Adger* | 13.17% | 1,246 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | William McCaughey* | 12.93% | 1,224 | | | | | | | |
| | TUV | Christopher Jamieson* | 12.63% | 1,195 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Alan Barr | 11.18% | 1,058 | 1,059.4 | 1,612.4 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Chelsea Harwood | 10.74% | 1,016 | 1,121.6 | 1,146.1 | 1,232.1 | | | | |
| | TUV | Matthew Warwick | 8.88% | 840 | 840.5 | 940.5 | 1,128.5 | 1,134.95 | 1,146.95 | 1,152.17 | 1,162.63 |
| | DUP | Julie Philpott | 9.21% | 872 | 872.2 | 893.2 | 1,045.2 | 1,098.6 | 1,120.6 | 1,150.87 | 1,152.04 |
| | UUP | Keith Turner* | 7.50% | 710 | 710.9 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 17,809 Valid: 9,463 (53.14%) Spoilt: 89 Quota: 1,183 Turnout: 9,552 (53.64%) ||||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 4 x DUP, 1 x TUV, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x TUV, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2014-2019 Change: TUV and Alliance gain from DUP and Sinn Féin
Braid - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | UUP | Robin Cherry* | 12.26% | 1,084 | 1,107 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Beth Adger* | 11.03% | 975 | 982 | 1,284 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Muriel Burnside † | 7.95% | 703 | 896 | 896 | 896 | 896.08 | 1,296.08 | |
| | DUP | Julie Frew | 10.48% | 926 | 933 | 1,077 | 1,103.55 | 1,103.59 | 1,106.59 | |
| | DUP | William McCaughey* | 9.33% | 825 | 827 | 907 | 1,050.96 | 1,051.04 | 1,054.04 | 1,058.04 |
| | TUV | Christopher Jamieson | 10.20% | 902 | 909 | 964 | 966.36 | 966.36 | 972.36 | 983.36 |
| | TUV | Brian Collins* | 9.86% | 872 | 881 | 894 | 896.36 | 896.52 | 898.52 | 905.52 |
| | UUP | Keith Turner | 9.05% | 800 | 816 | 827 | 827.59 | 828.03 | 848.03 | 898.03 |
| | Sinn Féin | Colette McAllister | 7.14% | 631 | 827 | 827 | 827 | 827.04 | | |
| | DUP | Sam Hanna | 6.85% | 605 | 606 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Marian Maguire | 4.20% | 371 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Roni Browne | 1.65% | 146 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,951 Valid: 8,840 (52.15%) Spoilt: 96 Quota: 1,106 Turnout: 8,936 (52.72%) |||||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2014: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x TUV, 1 x Sinn Féin
2011-2014 Change: DUP and TUV gain due to the addition of two seats
Braid - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | DUP | Beth Clyde* | 9.81% | 865 | 890 | 1,210 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | William McCaughey* | 10.57% | 932 | 955 | 1,038 | 1,112.46 | | | | | |
| | TUV | Brian Collins | 10.35% | 912 | 939 | 945 | 945.34 | 954.34 | 1,416.34 | | | |
| | UUP | Robin Cherry* | 10.90% | 961 | 1,009 | 1,027 | 1,028.36 | 1,057.36 | 1,090.36 | 1,160.92 | | |
| | DUP | Beth Adger* | 10.11% | 891 | 934 | 990 | 1,011.76 | 1,021.76 | 1,058.1 | 1,153.02 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Paul Maguire* ‡ | 8.19% | 722 | 736 | 737 | 737 | 1,044 | 1,045 | 1,045 | 1,045 | 1,045 |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna* | 9.08% | 800 | 808 | 845 | 851.8 | 863.14 | 881.14 | 923.14 | 935.74 | 978.49 |
| | UUP | Brian Thompson | 6.34% | 559 | 618 | 666 | 668.04 | 692.04 | 745.04 | 848.35 | 889.52 | 897.5 |
| | TUV | Roy McPeake | 6.77% | 597 | 632 | 645 | 645.34 | 649.34 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Catherine O'Hara | 5.95% | 524 | 606 | 608 | 608.68 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Chris Wales | 6.46% | 569 | 590 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Danny Donnelly | 3.39% | 299 | | | | | | | | |
| | PUP | William Parkhill | 2.08% | 183 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,543 Valid: 8,814 (53.28%) Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,102 Turnout: 8,902 (53.81%) |||||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP 2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin 2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP
Braid - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | Paul Frew* | 23.91% | 1,511 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Beth Clyde | 14.59% | 922 | 1,240.3 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna* | 13.99% | 884 | 958.7 | 1,118.84 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Paul Maguire | 9.08% | 574 | 574.3 | 574.3 | 632.6 | 633.6 | 962.5 | 963.14 |
| | UUP | Robin Cherry* | 10.95% | 692 | 706.1 | 711.88 | 712.88 | 859.66 | 883.66 | 910.06 |
| | UUP | Lexie Scott | 9.84% | 622 | 646 | 653.99 | 658.99 | 805.93 | 847.4 | 884.84 |
| | SDLP | Cahal Kerr | 6.47% | 409 | 411.7 | 412.21 | 558.51 | 561.51 | | |
| | TUV | Samuel Gaston* | 7.28% | 460 | 467.8 | 470.01 | 477.01 | | | |
| | Independent | Catherine O'Hara | 3.89% | 246 | 246.9 | 247.07 | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,688 Valid: 6,320 (59.13%) Spoilt: 90 Quota: 1,054 Turnout: 6,410 (59.97%) |||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Braid - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | DUP | Paul Frew | 23.61% | 1,524 | | | | |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna* | 16.95% | 1,094 | | | | |
| | DUP | Robin Stirling* | 13.23% | 854 | 1,238.54 | | | |
| | SDLP | Margaret Gribben* | 9.99% | 645 | 647.03 | 647.87 | 686.87 | 1,176.87 |
| | UUP | Robin Cherry | 11.59% | 748 | 761.63 | 808.39 | 1,045.73 | 1,047.01 |
| | UUP | Lexie Scott* | 9.23% | 596 | 619.49 | 686.13 | 847.27 | 849.27 |
| | Sinn Féin | Laurence O'Neill | 9.13% | 589 | 589.29 | 589.29 | 589.57 | |
| | UUP | Robert Wilson | 6.26% | 404 | 418.5 | 466.38 | | |
| Electorate: 9,694 Valid: 6,454 (66.58%) Spoilt: 83 Quota: 1,076 Turnout: 6,537 (67.43%) |||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
1997-2001 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Braid - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna | 18.75% | 1,242 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Margaret Gribben* | 17.48% | 1,158 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Robin Stirling* | 12.36% | 819 | 831.54 | 833.54 | 834.35 | 1,461.35 | |
| | UUP | David Clyde* | 14.51% | 961 | 964.52 | 972.52 | 998.71 | 1,035.71 | 1,120.71 |
| | UUP | Lexie Scott* | 13.48% | 893 | 899.93 | 903.15 | 912.42 | 964.99 | 1,018.99 |
| | UUP | Desmond Armstrong* | 12.30% | 815 | 815 | 817 | 829.42 | 856.82 | 905.82 |
| | DUP | Robert Osborne | 10.67% | 707 | 817.22 | 826.33 | 827.23 | | |
| | PUP | Robert Hamilton | 0.44% | 29 | 29.33 | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,397 Valid: 6,624 (70.49%) Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,105 Turnout: 6,712 (71.43%) ||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP
1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1993-1997 Change: SDLP gain from DUP
Braid - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SDLP | Margaret Gribben | 19.57% | 1,042 | | | | |
| | UUP | David Clyde* | 18.05% | 961 | | | | |
| | UUP | Desmond Armstrong* | 15.33% | 816 | 919.48 | | | |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna* | 11.70% | 623 | 632.36 | 1,029.36 | | |
| | UUP | Lexie Scott | 14.37% | 765 | 794.12 | 812.2 | 814.72 | 878.48 |
| | DUP | Samuel Gaston | 11.78% | 627 | 629.08 | 690.72 | 826.8 | 833.92 |
| | DUP | David McClintock* | 9.20% | 490 | 497.8 | | | |
| Electorate: 9,081 Valid: 5,324 (58.63%) Spoilt: 91 Quota: 888 Turnout: 5,415 (59.63%) |||||||||

## 1993 Election

1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP
Braid - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | David Clyde* | 27.31% | 1,304 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Desmond Armstrong* | 21.76% | 1,039 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Robert Forsythe | 16.57% | 791 | 1,196.45 | | | | |
| | DUP | Samuel Hanna* | 13.68% | 653 | 678.2 | 718.25 | 838.33 | | |
| | DUP | David McClintock* | 9.15% | 437 | 460.85 | 482 | 508.86 | 582.21 | 618.61 |
| | DUP | Samuel Wallace | 8.06% | 385 | 420.55 | 439 | 501.41 | 609.27 | 614.47 |
| | DUP | Samuel Martin | 3.48% | 166 | 182.2 | 196.15 | 229.33 | | |
| Electorate: 8,781 Valid: 4,775 (54.38%) Spoilt: 143 Quota: 796 Turnout: 4,918 (56.01%) ||||||||||