Olivia Chow Enters Toronto Mayor’s Race

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published May 25, 2026

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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has officially announced that she will run for another term in the city’s October municipal election, opening a high-profile race in Canada’s largest city.

Chow said she will continue focusing on her work as mayor for now, with “plenty of time” to campaign in the fall. Her message to residents was that she is “in your corner,” a phrase that quickly became the central line of her re-election pitch.

Toronto’s 2026 municipal nomination period opened on May 1 and closes on August 21 at 2 p.m. Election Day is set for October 26, with voters choosing the mayor, city councillors and school board trustees.

Her entry sets up a likely race against city councillor Brad Bradford, who launched his mayoral campaign earlier and has been critical of Chow’s record. Bradford has pointed to crime, congestion and cost of living as central issues in the campaign.

Chow is expected to campaign on her record at city hall, including school meal programs, public transit measures, emergency services hiring and funding agreements with other levels of government. Her critics, however, are likely to focus on rent, traffic, transit reliability, public safety and the cost of living.

The Toronto race matters beyond city politics. As Canada’s largest city and a major hub for immigration, business, education and housing pressures, the mayoral election will be closely watched by residents, newcomers, renters, small businesses and other levels of government.