Toronto needs a strong right-wing challenger for Olivia Chow in the 2026 mayoral race. This is healthy for our democracy and to get over voting apathy.
With John Tory out of this year’s mayoral race, it’s time for a strong opponent to take on Chow.
The 2026 Toronto municipal election now has a clear front-runner after the former mayor bowed out. But it doesn’t have to be this way, as many conservatives could give her a run for her money.
The latest poll by Mainstream Research has Chow with 43 per cent support and conservative city councillor, Brad Bradford, with 17 per cent approval. This is a marked contrast from the support for Tory, who had 34 per cent, which does suggest the current mayor is popular throughout the city.
Unless Bradford musters enough support, he won’t be a strong contender to take on Chow.
The mayor is almost certainly going to run, even though she hasn’t made it official.
In addition to Tory, several other people have bowed out, including former Liberal MP Marco Mendicino and former mayoral candidate Ana Bailão. Still, there is room for a right-wing challenger to be mayor.
Tory was the obvious choice for that role, but since he’s out, conservative circles will have to find someone reminiscent of the late Rob Ford to represent them on the ballot. Observers might remember that Ford came out of nowhere to win the 2010 mayoral election.
It has been reported that Michael Ford, Rob and Doug Ford's nephew, is considering throwing his hat into the ring. He was an MPP from 2022 to 2025, serving as the Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism in his uncle's government, and a former city councillor.
But since the Ford family has been powerful in Toronto politics for several decades, he could rightly be accused of nepotism by progressives. Downtowners certainly wouldn't accept a Ford as both mayor and as premier.
Chow is reportedly unpopular in Etobicoke, with Liason Strategies putting her approval rate there at 35 per cent in 2024, while her popularity in the downtown core was 68 per cent. This shows the political urban-suburban divide in Toronto.
A competitive race would benefit people across the city. It could remove the usual voter apathy associated with municipal elections and encourage people to participate.
And a competitive race can only be achieved by a conservative challenger.
There is a significant conservative segment of Toronto’s population, especially regarding finances. Many favour lower taxes and smaller government. That is why people like Rob Ford and Tory have done so well in the past couple of decades.
In fact, it’s a bit surprising that Chow became mayor in 2023, given this sentiment. The conservative candidate and former Toronto Police chief, Mark Saunders, ran a poor campaign and never managed to get support for his tough-on-crime election platform.
But the most plausible explanation for Chow’s victory is that people across the city were fed up with conservative voices at City Hall. They wanted a progressive voice, and they got one.
However, her 49 per cent approval rating, according to Mainstream Research, is not very high. This is probably due to higher taxes or the city’s ongoing affordability and homelessness crisis.
It is important that people vote in the upcoming municipal election, and the only way to do that is to have a competitive race. It is time for a strong right-wing challenger to take on Mayor Chow, as it would benefit both her and the entire city.
