In the first round, Craig secured 47% of the vote, compared with Astley’s 21%.
This meant the ballot papers from voters who did not select either of them as their first choice were brought back into play.
They were checked to see if the second-preference votes were for either the Labour or Reform candidate.
They were then added to the first-preference votes.
Craig expanded her already significant lead.
More than two million people across Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs were eligible to vote in the contest but turnout was just under 25%.
Analysis of the votes showed that Craig came top of the poll in the first round of voting in all the 10 local authority areas that make up Greater Manchester.
Astley came second in eight of the 10 areas, while the Green candidate Geraldine Coggins came second in Manchester and the Conservative candidate Phil Eckersley was second in Trafford.
In her speech, Craig said: “For too many people across our region, life is simply too hard. The generational belief that we had, that if you work hard and do the right thing, your life will be better and the life of the community will be better, is something that many people just don’t feel at the minute.”
She continued: “Everyone deserves a quality home in a good neighbourhood,” said Craig, adding that people should be able to plan for their future and for that of their children.
She added: “We have to move away from divisive politics, and we’ll do it together.”
Congratulations came from Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, who posted on X, external: “Huge congratulations to @bevcraig our fantastic new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“Thank you to our tireless activists who have worked so hard to help deliver this win.”
