Bonnie Crombie Considers Mississauga Mayor Comeback
The former mayor who left in 2024 to pursue provincial politics may return to the race this fall.
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Bonnie Crombie, who stepped down as Mississauga mayor in 2024 to run for Ontario Liberal Party leadership, is considering a political return to the mayoral race, sources tell CityNews.
Crombie led Mississauga from 2014 to 2024 before departing to pursue the provincial Liberal leadership. She won that race on the third ballot, defeating Liberal MPs Nate Erskine-Smith and Yasir Naqvi, and former MPP Ted Hsu. However, she lost her Mississauga East-Cooksville riding in the subsequent provincial election. At the party's AGM last September, 57 per cent voted against holding another leadership race. After initially indicating she would stay on as leader, Crombie announced in January 2026 that she would step down.
Crombie's plans for the city are not yet publicly known, but sources indicate an announcement about her future could come as early as next week.
Mississauga voters are split on a potential return. One resident praised her tenure: "I like that idea. I really do. She did well." Another was less enthusiastic: "We had a party for her when she left, and it was one of those don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Currently, Councillors Alvin Tedjo and Dipika Demerla are running for the mayor's seat. Tedjo told CityNews he would not leave his council position: "I'm not sure what Bonnie's doing. She quit this job. This is a phenomenal job, I would never quit this job." Demerla said she prefers to look forward, not back, and welcomes anyone with good ideas to build a better Mississauga.
Premier Doug Ford has been critical of Crombie. In March, he promised support for current mayor Carolyn Parrish, calling Crombie's tenure "an absolute disaster." Parrish said she would not participate in a "flurry of publicity" until Crombie officially registers to run.