Pro-democracy candidates win big in Hong Kong elections


With a record number of residents coming out to vote in Hong Kong's local elections on Sunday, pro-democracy candidates won more than half of the 452 district council seats.
Nearly three million people cast their ballots — almost double the number of voters who participated in the last election four years ago — with local media estimating on Monday morning that at least 377 seats were captured by pro-democracy candidates and 52 by pro-establishment candidates.
District councils decide on community issues, such as transportation. During the last election, pro-democracy candidates only secured 124 seats, and they received a boost this year thanks to young voters. Over the last six months, Hong Kong has been rocked by anti-government protests, with demonstrators calling for full democracy and an end to Chinese meddling in local affairs.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Is The Inbetweeners reboot a good idea?
Talking Point The cult classic sitcom is set to return over a decade after its final episode – but not everyone is happy
-
Scientists want to use enhanced rock weathering to cool the Earth
Under the radar Rock dust could trap atmospheric carbon
-
Codeword: October 14, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland