Toronto’s mayoral race heats up as Mayor Olivia Chow continues to lead, with a surprising newcomer, Chris Alexander, making a strong debut and reshaping the political landscape. A recent poll by Liaison Strategies revealed these new developments on Friday.
Mayor Chow commands a strong lead with 47% support among decided and leaning voters, followed by Councillor Brad Bradford at 40%. Chris Alexander, a former federal cabinet minister, enters the race with double digits at 10%, while three percent support other candidates.
Looking at all voters, including undecided ones, Chow maintains a solid lead with 38%, followed by Bradford at 32%, Alexander at 8%, while 20% are yet to make a decision.
Despite his background as a former Conservative cabinet minister and ambassador to Afghanistan, Alexander is a relatively unknown figure in municipal politics. Pollster David Valentin pointed out that Alexander’s entry has added complexity to Bradford’s campaign strategy as the centre-right vote is now distributed among multiple candidates.
While Mayor Chow’s job approval ratings remain steady at 50% approval and 43% disapproval, the broader public sentiment still presents challenges for City Hall.
The poll conducted by Liaison surveyed 1,000 Toronto residents on August 4–5 using IVR technology and random digit dialing.