Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford has set his sights on the mayor’s seat once again for the upcoming 2026 election.
In a recent online interview on YouTube, Bradford, who represents Beaches-East York, declared his intention to run for mayor, making him the first candidate to officially enter the race.
Although Bradford finished in eighth place in the 2023 byelection to replace former Mayor John Tory, he remains undeterred and determined to pursue his mayoral ambitions. With just under 10,000 votes in the previous election, Bradford is eager to engage with voters and present his vision for the city.
Having served a second term as councillor following the 2022 municipal election, Bradford brings a background in urban planning from his previous role with the City of Toronto. His experience and commitment to the community shape his platform for the upcoming mayoral campaign.
The municipal election is slated to take place on Oct. 26, 2026, setting the stage for a competitive race among candidates vying for the city’s top leadership role.
Recent polling conducted by Liaison Strategies earlier this year suggests that current Mayor Olivia Chow maintains a strong lead, with support from 39% of decided voters and 34% overall, when including John Tory in the survey. Bradford currently ranks third in the polls, trailing behind Chow and Tory.
In a hypothetical scenario without Tory in the race, Mayor Chow’s support increases to 49% among decided voters and 41% overall. Bradford emerges as the second choice, garnering 19% of decided voters and 16% overall, as per the survey results.