Who are the candidates for each party in the south Wales valleys?
Senedd election previews for Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, and Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni.
Hello and welcome to The Valleys Lead.
Today begins our guide to the 2026 Senedd election. Over the next two editions, we will give you a list all the candidates in the south Wales valleys, with as much detail about each that we could find. Today, we’ll be looking at Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, and Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni.
The guide is below, but first, we wanted to let you know we are hoping to continue to build a community of readers in the south Wales valleys, and you would be doing local journalism a massive favour by reading, and then sharing these newsletters on your social media feeds, or just sending them to people you think might be interested.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys.)
Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s Wales leader Dan Thomas visited the south Wales valleys on Thursday and Friday, speaking with locals and reporters. He stood beneath a statue of Keir Hardie as part of his visit. There were and are mixed responses to his visit on social media, some welcoming, some opposed. While on the visit, Farage visited a local Welsh cafe, and the visit lost the cafe owner thousands of followers on social media in response. In response, the owner said: “I wasn’t meant to endorse Reform. I wasn’t meant to endorse Nigel Farage or any of his strategies. My political views are not important – I don’t actually have any. I run a hospitality company — no time to have any.”
John Pritchard owns a car dealership, Riverbank Car Sales in Treforest, which has been in existence for the last 50 years. Now he faces his business having to close because a new hydroelectric scheme planned on the River Taff would require the demolition of his garage for it to go ahead. The scheme would provide electricity for the Lido in Pontypridd. He said the council had been vague with him when it approached him, and had not committed to anything in terms of an offer. “I am a one man band. It is everything I’ve got. It is my livelihood. They (the council) are leaving me high and dry. It is my only source of income. I literally don’t know what to do.”
Pontypridd could become the UK’s town of culture in two years. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Pontypridd Town Council are expected to submit an expression of interest to the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) competition for Pontypridd to be the UK Town of Culture in 2028.
The competition aims to spotlight the cultural contribution of towns to the national story. The winning town will be awarded £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028 of around six months and the two finalists will receive £250,000 each to deliver elements of their bid.
Who are the candidates for each party in the south Wales valleys?
With the Senedd election coming up on 7 May, The Valleys Lead is dedicating our next two editions to being a one-stop-shop for readers to find out who is running for each party.
There have been, as you’ll know, some major changes to devolved elections in Wales. Constituency boundaries have changed, as has the voting system and the number of politicians who will be elected.
There will be sixteen constituencies throughout Wales, and each will elect six Senedd Members. Instead of the current 60 Senedd members, there will be 96. You will no longer have two votes for a constituency and regional member, but one vote for a party or independent candidate you want to represent your constituency in the Senedd.
If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. So, for example, if a party wins three seats in a constituency, the top three people on their list will become Members for that area. If an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will also win a seat in the Senedd for their constituency.
The seats will be allocated based on the share of votes each party or independent candidate gets. So, if Party A gets 50% of the votes in a constituency, they will likely get three of the six seats. If Party B gets 30%, they will likely get two of the six seats. If an independent candidate has enough votes, they will also win a seat.
To vote, you’ll need to register in advance (hopefully, you’ve already done this). You’ll get a poll card in the post which will tell you where to go to vote (your polling station) on the day of the election). You do not need to bring ID when you vote in a Senedd election. At your polling station you will be given a ballot paper and will have one vote for the party or independent candidate you want to represent you in the Senedd. Your ballot paper will show the full list of candidates in your constituency, so you can still see who is standing for election.
To avoid total overwhelm, we’ve just focused on the candidates from three constituencies for today, and will finish off the list on Sunday.
You’ll notice that for some candidates, we couldn’t find much information at all. Please do get in touch with us if you have any details about a candidate we can weave in, and we’ll update our list.
Today, we’ll be looking at Afan Ogwr Rhondda, Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, and Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni.
Afan Ogwr Rhondda (Treorchy, Tonypandy)
Conservative and Unionist Party
1. Abigail Mainon – A Conservative Party worker who reportedly lives in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire.
2. Peter Crocker-Jacques – Has stood in three elections since 2016, and has yet to be elected.
3. Anthony John Kear – A Monmouthshire Councillor
4. William Robert Martin
5. Rachel Astle – A former member of staff to Dr James Davies when he was an MP. She lives in Prestatyn, North Wales.
6. Barbara Elizabeth Jones
Green Party
1. Nigel Pugh - For the past two decades Nigel has been politically campaigning both on social and environmental justices issues, both voluntarily and professionally in Wales. This is his first election. He believes that empowering community wealth, their wellbeing and cohesion, and assisting the public to restore their natural environment is key to our collective, positive future.
2. Anna Tuney
3. Stephanie Woodhouse – Ran in the 2024 by-election for Briton Ferry East, but wasn’t elected.
4. David Wade
5. Abby Rees
6. Ellis Thomas
Heritage Party
1. Kimberly Isherwood – Said her party is new, but it’s the “party of integrity.” “Anyone telling you their party is honest & for the people, have been manipulated or they are liars,” she said on Facebook. “Either way that’s not my problem because my job is to expose the parties and share with you the reality of challenging the government.”
2. Logan Jenkins – Said that “as an individual concerned about the actions of his own government, and its carelessness towards the wishes of the people, my only course of action is to learn, learn how it works, learn why it works and most importantly, learn why it hasn’t been working and why the change we so desperately need has never happened.”
Labour Party
1. Huw Irranca-Davies – A former MP and current MS for Ogmore. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.
2. Buffy Williams – A current MS for Rhondda since beating former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood in 2021. Prior to politics, she worked in the voluntary sector, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to Rhondda communities, and been awarded the Pride of Wales Award for her voluntary work in Rhondda communities.
3. David Rees – Has been the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Senedd since 2021. He has served as an MS for Aberavon since 2011. Advocates for steelworkers, sitting on the current TATA Transition Board and chairing the Cross-Party Groups on Steel, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and Cancer. He is the current Chair of the Scrutiny of the First Minister and Member Accountability Bill committees.
4. Stephanie Grimshaw – Aberavon Councillor. Advocate against violence against women and girls.
5. Lisa Pritchard – A Bridgend councillor with a strong local government background.
6. Elaine Denise Winstanley
7. Dilwar Ali
8. Tamasree Mukhopad Hyay
Liberal Democrats
1. Dean Ronan – Teacher supporting children in residential care and rugby coach. Priorities are clear: giving our communities a stronger local voice, ensuring no area is left behind, and empowering people through education, wellbeing, and opportunity.
2. Cen Phillips – Neath Port Talbot Councillor since 2022. Cabinet member for nature, tourism and wellbeing.
3. Gerald Francis
4. Helen Thomas - Chair of Governors at a Primary school and a parent governor at a secondary school.
5. Jim Hehir
6. James McGetrrick
Plaid Cymru
1. Sera Evans – A local councillor for Treorchy. An Oxford graduate in modern languages and linguistics. She chairs the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee and serves on key panels covering scrutiny, governor appointments and child poverty. Associate director of UK student recruitment and admissions at the University of South Wales. She is vice-chair of governors at two Rhondda schools, continuing her commitment to supporting young people and families.
2. Alun Cox – Lives in Porth. A trade unionist working as Unison’s deputy branch secretary and is a governor at two Rhondda schools. He’s an experienced campaigner, and Plaid Cymru member for 45 years.
3. Elyn Stephens - At 25, she was elected to RCT Council, where she led the campaign to secure free period products in schools. She’s worked in frontline public services at the DWP. She has worked for both an MEP and an MS
4. Danny Grehan – Rhondda Cynon Taff Councillor. Works as a community contact officer for Heledd Fychan MS.
5. Luned-Mair Barratt
6. Wendy Allsop
Reform UK
1. Benjamin Hodge McKenna – Has said new “safer” technologies could be used to extract Welsh coal which is of the “highest quality.” Although he said he understands the concerns about climate change, emissions that are produced in Wales on a global scale “are absolutely minuscule” meaning any changes would have “virtually no impact”.
2. Steve Bayliss - Chair of Reform’s Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore branch, Steve was originally set to stand in third place on the party’s list in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr but is now Reform’s number two candidate in Afan Ogwr Rhondda.
3. Darren James – Ran in the 2024 general election and was not elected.
4. Louise Musgrave
5. Catrin Thomas – Has previously said immigration was “much more of an issue” in England. Has spoken of freezing non-essential immigration, but said there would be exceptions in healthcare.
6. Zak Weaver - was elected to Penarth Town Council in a by-election on February 19 after defecting from the Welsh Conservatives to Reform just days before the vote. Due to the timing of his defection, Mr Weaver still appeared as the Conservative candidate on the official ballot paper.
Independents
Captain Beany – A charity fundraiser in Sandfields, Port Talbot, South Wales. His manifesto: The people of Wales deserve more than to be subjected to external imported baked bean products. I have decided that if I am duly elected, I shall commandeer the entire Senedd Building to be converted into a fully functional ‘Baked Bean Canning Installation’ and in the process, ensure that this country shall solely feast on Welsh baked beans! DON’T BE MEANY! VOTE FOR BEANY
Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr (Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Mountain Ash, Abercynon)
Conservative and Unionist Party
1. Adam Robinson – Llantrisant Councillor. Engineer by trade.
2. David Jones – Said he would scrap the 20MPH limit, fix services, and give the valleys a voice.
3. Roxanne Rees
4. Lee Davies
5. Oliver Morgan
6. Jayne McKenna – Monmouthshire Councillor.
Green Party
1. Angela Karadog – Cilfynydd Councillor who have lived in Pontypridd since 2004. Previously a teacher and manager of education research company.
2. James Bennett
3. John Dane
4. Georgina Budd – A doctor who has raised awareness about disability issues following a car crash that resulted in full time wheelchair use.
5. Zara Siddique
6. Jeffrey Baxter
Gwlad
1. Stefan Morgan – First-time candidate. Spend seven years as RAF electrical engineer. His statement: I bring a varied career background to my candidacy, ranging from seven years as an RAF electrical engineer, and a year spent in Australia doing farm work and bar work. I’ve also helped build the new Ajax army scout vehicle and am now working as an aircraft electrical fitter. I support GWLAD because they hold the same core values as myself.
Heritage Party
1. Julie Lloyd
Labour Party
1. Vikki Howells – MS for the Cynon Valley since 2016 and Minister for Further and Higher Education. In the Senedd, has chaired committees, cross-party groups and the Welsh Labour group of MSs.
2. Lloyd Watkins - Worked as a civil servant for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Completed a PhD on the impact of A.I., Robotics and automation on government.
3. Chris Binding – Has worked as an Rhondda Cynon Taf Councillor, a trade union shop steward, a volunteer, and a caseworker for Labour MPs and Senedd members.
4. Mitch Theaker – At the age of 21, elected as a Councillor for the City and County of Swansea. Later appointed as a Cabinet Member in Swansea Council. Former special advisor to Mark Drakeford and Welsh Government diplomat who was shortlisted as a Labour candidate without telling the members he had been appointed the new Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.
5. Mustapha Maohoub – Cwmbach Councillor
6. Anna Williams-Price – Merthyr Tydfil Councillor. Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Financial Sustainability, Assets & Commercial
7. Jane Gebbie – Bridgend Councillor. Cabinet Member Social Services, Health and Wellbeing
Liberal Democrats
1. Neil Feist – Llanharan Councillor since 2022. Has a background in outdoor education.
2. David Seale – Lives in Abercanaid. Became involved with the Liberal Democrats during the Brexit campaign and is passionate about international cooperation, animal welfare, and strengthening local communities. David is particularly committed to tackling littering, antisocial behaviour, and the misuse of off-road motorbikes, and strongly supports greater investment in community policing.
3. Alec Dauncey – Previously ran in the general election for Clwyd East, but wasn’t elected.
4. Nick Beckett – Has ran in the 2024 general election for Caerfyrddin and in the 2022 Carmarthenshire local election. He wasn’t elected.
5. Chris Passmore – Ran in the 2024 general election for Llanelli and in the Carmarthenshire local elections in 2022. He wasn’t elected.
6. Hayden Stephen Matthew Lewis
Plaid Cymru
1. Heledd Fychan – A Welsh politician, who has represented South Wales Central since May 2021. She is a former director of policy and political education for Plaid Cymru, and currently Plaid’s spokesperson on Finance, Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language.
2. Lis McLean – Runs Canolfan Soar in Merthyr Tydfil, home to a number of local Welsh language organisations. Passionate about keeping wealth in local communities.
3. Sara Crowley - Originally from Penrhiwceiber and now living in the Cynon Valley. She’s worked in schools, prisons, and the NHS. An Equal Power Equal Voice graduate dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and marginalized groups.
4. Ian Gwynne – Has campaigned to be elected in the 2021 general election and 2022 in Merthyr Tydfil local election, but was not elected.
5. Farrell Perks – Has a background in journalism, and is a foster carer.
6. Ioan Bellin – Former journalist and office manager for Welsh politicians.
Reform UK
1. Jason O’Connell – Previously an Independent and Conservative Councillor, Jason lives in Torfaen. This has caused a stir among Reform members in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, where some see Jason as a candidate who has been parachuted into the constituency because he is favoured by the party leadership. It’s been reported he failed to declare he’s employed by a Senedd Member, Laura Anne Jones. The original plan had been for Andrew Barry to be the first seat for Reform UK, but he pulled out of the election in March, saying the experience had broken his “belief in politics.”
2. David Hughes – A Merthyr Councillor who didn’t appear on the list in March.
3. Mark Lawrence
4. Martin Roberts – Local businessman. Ran for local government seat in Pontypridd Town by-election, but wasn’t elected.
5. John Ball
6. Jamie Loftus – Also didn’t appear on the list of candidates in March
Independents
Dai Williams – In his 80s. A trained marriage guidance counsellor. He said he has good experience of housing, and assists two local landlords with tenant support in the Merthyr area. Has said he has “become increasingly dissatisfied with the performance of the Senedd as a whole – both Government and Opposition.” He said he will “never surrender principal in favour of dancing to the tune of any party fiddle.”
Beth Winter – Worked as MP for the Cynon Valley from 2019 to 2024. She has a PhD in disadvantage among older people in rural communities. In 2025, Beth announced support for Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party, but is no longer apart of the party.
Joseph Anthony Biddulph
Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni (Abertillery, Bargoed, Rhymney, Caerphilly)
Conservative and Unionist Party
1. Gareth Potter – Previously worked in the charity sector. Ran in the Caerphilly by-election in 2025, but was not elected.
2. Janet Elizabeth Butler – Monmouthshire Councillor from 2022.
3. John Child – Ran in the 2022 Caerphilly local election and was not elected.
4. David John West
5. Martin Newell– Monmouthshire Councillor since 2024.
6. Fay Bromfield – Monmouthshire Councillor since 2022. Organised a petition opposing a 304-acre solar farm on the grounds of losing agricultural land.
Green Party
1. Anne Baker – A lifelong campaigner and former trade unionist. Ran in the general election in 2024 but was not elected.
2. Alexis Celnik – Ran in the Caerphilly local election in 2022, but wasn’t elected.
3. Rachel Roberts
4. Hannah Garcia
5. Aidan Dempsey
6. Jamie Payne
Gwlad
Heritage Party
1. Jared Burgess – Promises to “question large-scale energy developments that impact landscape,” and to not use taxes “for items that invest support to foreign belligerent nations. No to foreign involvement in conflicts that don’t matter to us.” He aspires to be a citizen journalist, and writes on the intersections of shamanism and Christianity.
Labour Party
1. Alun Davies – MS for Blaenau Gwent since 2011, and formerly Mid and West Wales from 2007 to 2011. He has served in several Welsh government offices, including Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language, and Minister for Natural Resources and Food. He also worked in the energy sector, nuclear industry and TV before establishing his own business before being elected. Has spoken honestly about Labour’s shortcomings and what they must do turn things around.
2. Richard Tunnicliffe – Founded a Welsh language publishing company with his wife, and was worked as a banker and chartered accountant. Ran in the Caerphilly by-election in 2025 but was not elected.
3. Keiran Russell – A business leader and manager who “has supported thousands of local people to start and grow businesses in the last 10 years.”
4. Sara Beard – Ran in the 2022 Merthyr Tydfil local elections but was not elected.
5. Simon Dancey
6. John Pettit – Caerphilly Councillor
7. Hero Marsden
Liberal Democrats
1. Steve Aicheler – A small business owner education enterprise specialist. Caerphilly Councillor. Said that through his “involvement in entrepreneurship and innovation” he understands the importance of listening to customers and he would apply this design thinking methodology in government to develop public services which are efficient and effective. “I know that I don’t know everything, and therefore that as a politician I have to listen to those who have more experience than I do.”
2. David Scullin
3. Catherine Dowden-King
4. Steve Lloyd – Ran in the 2022 Caerphilly local election but was not elected. Works as Secretary of his local Welsh Liberal Democrat party.
5. Ivan William Westley
6. Juliet Price – Has worked as a case officer for a Liberal Democrat MP. Previously ran for Ceredigion local election but was not elected.
Plaid Cymru
1. Delyth Jewell – In 2014, she won the ‘Researcher of the Year’ Award for her work in paving the way for legislation on stalking and coercive control. She later worked for Citizens’ Advice and Action Aid. MS for South Wales East since 2019. Party spokesperson on climate change, transport and energy.
2. Lindsey Whittle – Former housing manager. Former leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council. An MS between May 2011 and April 2016, October 2025 and April 2026.
3. Niamh Ffion Mai Salkeld – University degree in international politics, and political researcher for social justice, education, and the arts. Her campaign priorities focus on tackling child poverty, supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, reducing the attainment gap and improving prosperity across Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney.
4. Catrin Moss
5. Charlotte Bishop
6. Steven Skivens
Reform UK
1. Lllŷr Powell – Has worked in political communications and public affairs. Has been active in UKIP, the Brexit Party, and now Reform UK. Reported to have previously been part of Young Independence, which has multiple links to the far-right. While he was head of communications and engagement at Scouts Cymru, Lllŷr was investigated for sharing posts that were anti-trans, homophobic, and politically biased.
2. Catherine Cullen – Has said she backs Reform UK because they are the party that puts the country first. She stood as a Reform UK candidate in 2024 Derbyshire elections, and finished third.
3. Joshua Kim – Works as a teacher in Cardiff. Said that “as a non-white immigrant Reform MP, my very existence would nullify the fallacious argument that being anti-mass immigration is racist. Immigration is too high. And no: immigrants are not all doctors and engineers. Our public services clearly cannot cope. It is plain common sense that any government should put its own citizens first.”
4. Jonathan Parker – Ran in the Caerphilly local elections for the Conservative and Unionist Party in 2022, but wasn’t elected.
5. Glenda Davies – Has previously stood for UKIP and the Brexit Party in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021, but has not been elected.
6. Barclay Nickels
Open Party
1. Karen Horan
Independents
Mike Whatley – Ran in the general election in 2024 but was not elected. “Free from the constraints of a party whip, I will be answerable only to you, the people who live and work in this region.”
Jordan Brace – Former NHS staff who has said he gives more than 30 hours a week to helping local residents.·
Steve Wright