Politics · Canada · 39 mins ago
Toronto voters decide close mayoral race in Ontario municipal elections
Toronto voters went to the polls Monday to choose a mayor, councillors and school board trustees as municipalities across Ontario held elections.
Incumbent Olivia Chow is facing challenger Brad Bradford in a Toronto mayoral race described as unusually close.
Chow took office in 2023 after winning a by-election, and Bradford is a city councillor who has served since 2018.
The candidates have offered different priorities: Chow has promised affordable housing and free school lunches, while Bradford has pledged a first-year property tax freeze.
A Bradford victory would make Chow the first incumbent Toronto mayor to lose re-election since the current city was formed in 1998.
Turnout, especially in downtown areas, could help decide the result, and election results are expected after voting ends.
Toronto voters went to the polls on Monday, Oct. 26, to elect a mayor, councillors and school board trustees.
The mayoral race was between incumbent Olivia Chow and city councillor Brad Bradford, her main challenger.
News reports described the contest as tight, with the result still to be decided.
Chow highlighted lower grocery costs, free school lunches and more affordable housing, while Bradford pledged a first-year property-tax freeze and to remove the land transfer tax on homes under $1.1 million.
- Who
- Toronto voters. Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford were the main mayoral candidates.
- What
- Voters chose a mayor, councillors and school board trustees.
- When
- Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
- Where
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- To elect municipal representatives.
Olivia Chow
Brad Bradford
Property taxes
Olivia Chow
Chow said future increases would stay “in and around” inflation.
Brad Bradford
Bradford pledged to freeze property tax rates in his first year as mayor.
City priorities
Olivia Chow
Chow promised measures to lower grocery prices, provide free school lunches and build more affordable housing.
Brad Bradford
Bradford said Chow had failed to address the city’s traffic and transit problems.
Chow accused Bradford of neglecting residents in his ward, while Bradford criticized her handling of traffic and transit problems.
Toronto voters went to the polls to choose a mayor, councillors and school board trustees.
- Mayoral candidates
- Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford
- Election date
- Oct. 26, 2026
- Offices being elected
- Mayor, councillors and school board trustees
- Bradford’s property-tax pledge
- Freeze rates in his first year as mayor
- Bradford’s land transfer tax pledge
- Scrap the tax for homes under $1.1 million
9 sources
Toronto awaits results after polls close in municipal election
Olivia Chow vs Brad Bradford for Toronto mayor as results come in. Live election updates here
Battle for Toronto mayor could be one of the tightest as Ontario holds municipal elections
IN PHOTOS | Toronto voters head to the polls in tight municipal race
Voters head to the polls across Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
What people are saying
For me, the question really is, does he have the machine? Does he have the people power to get this done?
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