London— Labour’s Sadiq Khan has secured a groundbreaking third term as London mayor, defeating Tory challenger Susan Hall in a closely watched election. Despite initial speculation of a possible upset, Khan emerged victorious with a significant margin of votes.

With 1,088,225 votes, accounting for 43.8% of the total, Khan solidified his position as London’s mayor, enjoying a substantial lead of nearly 276,000 votes over Hall, who secured 812,397 votes, representing 32.7% of the ballots.

This marks the first time in London’s mayoral history that a candidate has been elected for a third consecutive term, with Khan surpassing the two-term records of his predecessors, Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone.

However, Khan’s victory was not without its moments of contention. During his victory speech, he faced jeers and heckling from a far-right Britain First candidate, who accused Khan of detrimental actions towards the city, despite receiving fewer votes than the satirical candidate, Count Binface.

Addressing supporters at City Hall, Khan acknowledged the challenges of the campaign, emphasizing his commitment to combatting negativity with positivity and division with unity. He celebrated London’s diversity as a source of strength and resilience against right-wing populism, affirming the city’s forward-looking ethos.

Expressing gratitude to his family for their unwavering support, Khan also apologized for the disruptions they faced, including protests near their home and threats.

Khan’s victory comes amidst a broader context of local elections, where the Conservative Party experienced setbacks in various regions, underscoring the significance of London’s mayoral race in the political landscape.