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Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Senedd Member Dawn Bowden is to step down at the next election, she has announced.
Originally hailing from Bristol, Ms Bowden has represented the constituency in Cardiff Bay since 2016 and is currently the Welsh Government Minister for Children and Social Care.
In a letter to the local constituency party, Ms Bowden said she was not seeking re-election to spend more time with her family.
She said: “After much consideration I have decided that I will not be a candidate in the 2026 elections.
“Having left school at 16, and after working continuously for almost 50 years, for me it is now a time for new challenges and different opportunities.
“I look forward to more time with our grandchildren and with my family. I am not complaining but, I know, for too long they have had to take a back seat as I have dealt with the daily demands of politics and government.
“I look forward to the opportunity for a different pace and focus in my life.”
Ms Bowden was the first woman to be elected to represent the constituency in either Senedd or Westminster elections and was re-elected with an increased majority in 2021.
In her letter she thanked former First Ministers Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething, current leader Eluned Morgan, as well as party colleagues and constituents.
She continued: “During my time as an AM, and nowMS, I have been supported by many constituents, local organisations, members of Welsh Labour, councillors, trade unions including my own union Unison, the Co-operative Party and a great team of staff in my constituency.
“I have greatly valued my strong working partnership with Gerald Jones MP and since 2024 with Nick Smith MP in Rhymney. I thank you all because without your support I would not have been able to do what I have done.”
2026 Senedd election and new boundaries
In 2026, the Senedd will expand from 60 to 96 members and adopt a new electoral system, with the 32 constituencies used in last year’s Westminster general election paired to create 16 ‘super constituencies’ – each electing six Senedd Members.
Currently, Wales uses an additional member system – a mix of proportional representation and the first-past-the-post system used in Westminster elections.
Forty constituency Senedd members are elected via first past the post and a further 20 are elected to represent five regions via party lists.
But from 2026 voters will receive one ballot rather than two, with first past the post scrapped and all members elected via a full form of proportional representation.
Wales will use “closed lists”, which will see people voting for parties rather than specific candidates, despite experts describing the new system as dangerous.
Political parties will decide the order of candidates on lists unlike under a flexible-list system or the single transferable vote which would give the electorate a say.
The D’Hondt method, a formula to apportion seats based on votes, will continue to be used over the Sainte-Lague system which would benefit smaller parties.
The 16 constituencies proposed by the commission are:
- Bangor Conwy Môn
- Clwyd
- Fflint Wrecsam
- Gwynedd Maldwyn
- Ceredigion Penfro
- Sir Gâr
- Gorllewin Abertawe Gŵyr (Swansea West Gower)
- De Powys Tawe Nedd (South Powys Tawe Neath)
- Afan Ogwr Rhondda
- Merthyr Cynon Taf
- Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni
- Mynwy Torfaen
- Casnewydd Islwyn
- De-ddwyrain Caerdydd Penarth (Cardiff South-east Penarth)
- Gogledd-orllewin Caerdydd (Cardiff North-west)
- Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg
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