According to a recent poll, Mayor Olivia Chow is maintaining a strong lead in the race for Toronto’s mayoral position, despite a slight dip in her personal approval ratings.
The survey conducted by Liaison Strategies reveals that Chow is ahead of her challenger Brad Bradford by nine percentage points among decided and leaning voters. Chow has secured 48% of the support compared to Bradford’s 39%. Former federal cabinet minister Chris Alexander trails at 10%, with three percent backing another candidate.
Chow’s lead has slightly increased since the previous poll conducted by Liaison on Sept. 22, indicating she has maintained and even expanded her advantage as the campaign progresses.
While Chow’s numbers on the ballot have improved, her job approval ratings have seen a decline. Forty-nine percent of respondents approve of Chow’s performance as mayor, down three points from the previous survey. On the other hand, 45% disapproved, reflecting a three-point increase since the last poll.
Despite the decrease in approval ratings, respondents seem optimistic about the city’s direction, with half believing Toronto is heading in the right path. Bradford also garnered a higher favorable impression, but this has not yet translated into significant shifts in voting intentions.
The poll also highlighted a notable gender gap, with Chow leading among women by a significant margin while Bradford has an advantage among men. Regionally, Chow holds strong numbers across most parts of the city, with Bradford’s main support in Etobicoke.
Overall, the poll indicates that while Chow maintains a lead in the mayoral race, voter sentiments are evolving as the campaign progresses.
