Olivia Chow secured a second term as Toronto mayor in an election held later this month, winning with 54% of the vote compared to 41% for her closest challenger, Brad Bradford. The race concluded with record turnout but ultimately delivered a decisive 13-percentage-point victory for the incumbent, confounding weeks of polling that had suggested the two candidates were evenly matched.
Chow, who is 69 years old, has an extensive background in Toronto politics, having previously served as a school board trustee, city councillor, and federal member of parliament. Her campaign centered on addressing the city’s affordability crisis through expanded rental housing, free school lunches, and reduced transit fares for regular riders. She accumulated over 532,000 votes, nearly double the total she received when first elected in 2023.
Bradford, a 40-year-old former city councillor and urban planner, focused his campaign on criticism of Chow’s handling of the cost of living and public safety. He advocated for increased police presence and lower taxes but made some claims about crime that did not align with recent statistical trends showing declines in homicides, firearms violence, and assault, despite increases in auto theft and high-value property crimes. Bradford also attempted to position himself as a stronger voice on combating antisemitism in the city following recent incidents of vandalism and shootings at Jewish institutions.
The election also reflected broader support for progressive candidates across Toronto’s municipal government. A large number of progressive council members either retained their seats or won for the first time, including Diana McNally Chan, an advocate for unhoused individuals who will become the first renter to serve on city council. Throughout her campaign and tenure, Chow has maintained a complex political relationship with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who initially criticized her but later suggested they had developed a productive working relationship, though disagreements over bike lanes infrastructure remain likely.
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