Coun. Bradford Joins Toronto Mayoral Race as Chow Expected to Seek Re-election

Toronto Coun. Brad Bradford has entered the 2026 mayoral race, while incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election as the nomination period gets underway.

Bradford officially registered on May 1, the opening day of nominations, becoming the most prominent declared candidate in the race so far. A longtime councillor for Beaches–East York, he previously ran in the 2023 mayoral byelection, where he finished eighth in a crowded field. He is positioning his campaign around themes of affordability, public safety, and easing traffic congestion, though he has not yet released a detailed platform.

Chow, meanwhile, is widely expected to seek a second term but has not formally confirmed her plans. Speaking to reporters at McGregor Park Community Centre in Scarborough on May 1, she said she was “very focused” on her current work and would address the election at a later time.

In a May 1 press release, Chow highlighted ongoing initiatives focused on youth employment, skills training, recreation programs, and violence prevention, framing them as part of a broader safer-neighbourhoods strategy that extends beyond enforcement.

A number of other contenders have begun registering as the nomination period opens as well.

Among those registered are Lyall Sanders, Peter Handjis, and Isidoros Kyrlangitses, and others. Sanders, a teacher and activist, has previously run in other elections, while Handjis and Kyrlangitses are familiar names from past municipal races.

Early polling suggests Chow holds a lead over Bradford in the initial stages of the race. A Liaison Strategies survey found Chow at 46 percent support among decided voters compared with 35 percent for Bradford. The poll also highlighted geographic and issue-based divides, with Bradford performing more strongly in suburban areas while Chow’s support is concentrated in the downtown core.

A separate Pallas Data poll showed a narrower contest, with Chow at 35 percent and Bradford at 29 percent, and roughly one-quarter of voters still undecided. Among decided voters, Chow’s lead widened to 47 percent compared with 38 percent for Bradford. The survey also found a plurality of respondents believe the city is headed in the wrong direction, with housing and affordability emerging as key concerns.