A recent poll conducted by Mainstreet Research reveals a tightening competition in the Toronto mayoral race following the first debate earlier this week.
The survey shows that Olivia Chow leads the race with 38.1% support, followed closely by Brad Bradford at 31.4%. Chris Alexander garnered 8% of the intended votes. Notably, 13.5% of respondents expressed uncertainty and may change their voting preference before election day.
Crime and safety emerged as a significant concern for voters, with over half (51.8%) considering it extremely or very important in their decision-making process. Additionally, approximately 62.5% of respondents believe that crime rates have risen over the past two years.
The survey identified downtown core safety as the top concern for 20.7% of respondents, with the TTC and personal neighborhoods following closely at 19.9% and 17.9%, respectively. Mainstreet Research President & CEO, Quito Maggi, emphasized the critical impact of these issues on the election outcome, stating that the race remains too close to predict due to shifting perceptions among voters.
Election day is set for October 26, and the poll, based on responses from 1,000 Torontonians between September 14-17, 2026, carries a margin of error of +/- 3.1% 19 times out of 20.
