Olivia Chow Re-Elected Toronto Mayor in Landslide Over Brad Bradford, Vows Housing and Transit Action

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow secured a decisive second term, defeating challenger Brad Bradford by 13 percentage points in a record-turnout election that also saw progressive councillors gain ground. Chow captured 54% of the vote to Bradford’s 41%, a far wider margin than pre-election polls had suggested, which had pointed to a dead heat in Canada’s largest city. Her victory speech emphasized immediate priorities: building more rental housing, expanding free school lunch programs, and cutting fares for frequent transit riders. The result signals strong voter backing for Chow’s progressive agenda on affordability and public services, despite a tightly fought campaign that drew unprecedented participation. For Toronto residents, the outcome could accelerate policy shifts on housing supply and transit equity at a time when the city grapples with cost-of-living pressures. With a fresh mandate and allied councillors, Chow now faces the challenge of turning campaign promises into tangible change.