Reform won control of Kent County Council in May last year, securing 57 out of 81 seats, but is now down to 47.
Posting on X, Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaren, of Reform, thanked those who voted and described party candidate Marc Rattigan as “fantastic”.
She said that he “could not have done any more or worked any harder”.
“Naturally, the result is not what we wanted, but we are proud that we ran a clean and positive campaign throughout,” added Kemkaren.
