Here are the Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Maldwyn candidates for the 2026 Senedd election. The team will be led by Siân Gwenllian, the No.1 Plaid Cymru candidate.
1. Siân Gwenllian
Siân Gwenllian represents the Arfon constituency in the Senedd/Welsh Parliament. She was elected for the first time in 2016, and was re-elected in 2021 with a higher percentage of the vote than any other candidate throughout Wales, doubling her majority with 63.3% of the vote. She is proud to have successfully campaigned for a new medical school for the north of Wales based in Bangor in her constituency.
She currently holds the Housing and Planning portfolio for Plaid Cymru (2024-) following her role as the Lead Designated Member in the Co-operation Agreement (2021-2024) between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Labour Government. She worked on a total of 46 policy areas bringing about major changes such as free school meals for all primary pupils, expansion of free childcare, radical measures to address the housing crisis as well as contributing to creating a more effective and representative Senedd.
She grew up in the village of Y Felinheli where she still lives and received her secondary education in Bangor. She attended university at both Aberystwyth and Cardiff, and worked as a journalist with the BBC, HTV, Golwg as well as presenting and producing documentaries on a freelance basis. She was also press officer for Cyngor Gwynedd (1997-2004.)
In 2008 Siân was elected county councillor for Y Felinheli, serving for 8 years prior to her election to the Senedd. She held the finance portfolio (2010-12) before becoming the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People. She was also the county's Small Business Champion
Siân's political interest spans several decades. During her time at Aberystwyth University she was Deputy President of the Students' Union. She has also been a primary and secondary school governor, chair of her local community council and a volunteer with many local organisations. She has been a passionate campaigner for women's equality and the Welsh language for over 45 years.
Siân had four children with her husband, Dafydd but in 1999, when their youngest son was only three years old, Dafydd died of cancer. Siân brought up the four children as a single parent.
2. Mabon ap Gwynfor
Mabon ap Gwynfor represents the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency in the Senedd and was first elected in 2021. He serves as Plaid Cymru Spokesperson on Health and Social Care and party Chief Whip. Prior to his election to the Senedd, Mabon served as a County Councillor on Denbighshire Council representing the Llandrillo ward between 2017 and 2021. Mabon also served as a Town Councillor in Aberystwyth in 2004.
Mabon takes an interest in a wide range of areas, including international issues relating to peace and the relationship between states; and the rights of communities and people. Mabon established the North Wales Health Alliance in 2013. He was co-organiser of the national Wales for peace festival from 2004 to 2006. He is a member of the pan-European Political Group on Cancer. Mabon is Chair of CND Cymru.
Amongst Mabon’s priorities is taking action to stop the flow of young people leaving our communities by pushing for investment in our infrastructure, improving public transport, and implementing a radical plan to tackle the housing crisis.
As a son of the manse, the family moved around different communities. As a result, Mabon attended various secondary schools: Ysgol Gyfun Dyffryn Teifi, Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, and Canolfan Gwenallt in Ystalyfera, with a short period at St Roses School, Georgetown, Guyana.
Mabon lives on the family farm on the Meirionnydd - Maldwyn border with his wife Nia and their four children. He is an amateur fine artist, and takes an interest in photography, reading widely, and playing with his children.
3. Beca Brown
Born in Brecon, Beca grew up in Dyffryn Ardudwy and Waunfawr, before settling in Llanrug after a period in Cardiff.
She is a county councillor on Cyngor Gwynedd and works in Welsh education for adults. As a child of English parents, she enjoys supporting new Welsh speakers after seeing her parents learn the language after moving to Wales.
She was a print and television journalist for many years, with a special interest in matters concerning social justice.
She has been involved in politics since her school days, but her political activity began in earnest on the local community council, where she volunteers on the FareShare food scheme and with the second-hand school uniform exchange.
She would like to see confident, sustainable and happy communities and her political work has clearly demonstrated to her that our people deserve better than the crumbs thrown by our current governments. Beca is a mother of two children in their twenties and enjoys the arts and walking her dog.
4. Elwyn Vaughan
5. Elin Hywel
6. Donna O'Brien
I have been a member of Plaid Cymru for over five years and currently serve as a Community Councillor in Ruabon. Born and raised in Wrexham, I moved to Ruabon six years ago to be closer to my wider family, and I am proud to call this community home. I have worked in financial services for over 20 years, gaining experience in supporting people with some of the biggest decisions in their lives. I am also currently studying and enjoying learning Cymraeg, as I believe our language is a vital part of our culture and future.
In my time on the council, I’ve led local campaigns such as saving Ruabon’s Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). After organising community clean-ups and working with volunteers, we secured £47,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund to replace the old facility with a new, modern one for local families.
I’ve also been actively involved in the campaign against the Hafod landfill site, helping to organise protests and petitions that attracted media attention across Wales and are now being considered by the Senedd’s petitions committee.
Previously, I was part of the committee for Pen-y-Cae Orchard Community Garden, helping to set up the growing space and encouraging more people to get involved in sustainable community projects.
Alongside this, I was part of the team canvassing in Maldwyn & Glyndwr during the last General Election and continue to support Plaid campaigns locally and nationally.
My priorities are fairness, community, and giving people confidence in their future. I want to see a fairer Wales where local communities like ours have the investment, services, and opportunities we deserve.