Voters across Ontario head to the polls, with Ottawa's mayoral race among the three headliners
Chow, Crombie and Sutcliffe are the names to watch, and the province's role in the races has become a campaign issue.
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More than 400 Ontario municipalities hold elections today. Toronto, Mississauga and Ottawa are the headline mayoral races.
In Toronto, incumbent Olivia Chow is trying to hold off city councillor Brad Bradford. In Mississauga, former Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie is described as the front-runner to reclaim the top job, with councillor Alvin Tedjo and incumbent Carolyn Parrish also running. In Ottawa, front-runner Mark Sutcliffe faces city councillor Jeff Leiper, and polls suggest the race has narrowed in the lead-up to the vote.
Provincial changes shape many of the local contests. Candidates are sparring over the strong mayor powers the province granted. Waterloo, Niagara and several other upper-tier municipalities will not elect regional chairs, because the province gave itself the power to appoint them instead. Eight school boards remain under provincial supervision, which raises questions about what trustees elected Monday can actually do.
Premier Doug Ford is not on the ballot. CityNews is running live coverage from 7:30 p.m. ET. No vote counts, turnout figures or results were available when this was written.
The facts
Who are the three main mayoral candidates in Toronto?
Incumbent Olivia Chow is running against city councillor Brad Bradford in Toronto.
How many Ontario municipalities are holding elections today?
More than 400 Ontario municipalities are holding elections on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Who is the front-runner in the Ottawa mayoral race?
Mark Sutcliffe is the front-runner in Ottawa, facing city councillor Jeff Leiper, with polls suggesting the race has tightened before the vote.
What provincial change is affecting regional government elections?
In Waterloo, Niagara and several other upper-tier municipalities, regional chairs will not be elected; instead, the province has given itself the power to appoint them.
