Sunderland City Council elections

Sunderland City Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Sunderland City Council is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 75 councillors have been elected from 25 wards.

Council composition
Whilst under Labour control solidly since 1973, the political composition of Sunderland City Council has fluctuated over the years as the Conservatives, SDP-Liberal Alliance, and Independents gained seats from the Labour Party. Until 2019, only Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents (including Independent Labour) had ever won seats on Sunderland City Council. When UKIP and Green Party councillors were elected in 2019, Sunderland became one of the few British councils with all five parties represented. The table below gives an impression of the council's composition based on local election results.

Council elections
Sunderland's Council area comprises 25 wards, each electing three councillors. Elections are held in thirds, in three years out of every four. Between 1974 and 1986, elections were held in every fourth year to Tyne and Wear County Council, until the County Council was abolished. In 1982 and 2004, all seats on Sunderland Council were up for election following boundary changes.

Elections under 1973-1980 boundaries

 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1973 (whole council elected)
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1975
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1976
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1978
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1979
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1980

Elections under 1982-2003 boundaries

 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1982 (whole council elected after boundary changes)
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1983
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1984
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1986
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1987
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1988
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1990
 * Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1991
 * 1992 Sunderland City Council election
 * 1994 Sunderland City Council election
 * 1995 Sunderland City Council election
 * 1996 Sunderland City Council election
 * 1998 Sunderland City Council election
 * 1999 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2000 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2002 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2003 Sunderland City Council election

Elections under 2004 boundaries

 * 2004 Sunderland City Council election (whole council elected after boundary changes)
 * 2006 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2007 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2008 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2010 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2011 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2012 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2014 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2015 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2016 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2018 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2019 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2021 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2022 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2023 Sunderland City Council election
 * 2024 Sunderland City Council election

2018-2022
At the time of resignation, incumbent Keith Jenkins was an independent.