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Mayors

Marco Mendicino Considers Mayoral Run in Toronto as Olivia Chow Faces Competition

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Marco Mendicino, a former Liberal cabinet member and chief of staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney, is reportedly considering a run for mayor of Toronto in the 2026 municipal election. Multiple sources, including four close to Mendicino, have confirmed that he is eyeing a mayoral bid to replace incumbent Olivia Chow. This move comes as Chow faces competition from other potential candidates, including Brad Bradford, Ana Bailão, and former mayor John Tory, who is being encouraged to make a comeback.

Key Takeaways:

  • Marco Mendicino, a former Liberal cabinet member, is considering a run for mayor of Toronto in the 2026 municipal election, with multiple sources confirming he is eyeing a mayoral bid to replace incumbent Olivia Chow.
  • Four sources close to Mendicino confirmed that he has been approached by people urging him to run, and there is a growing chorus of voices asking him to enter the mayoral contest.
  • A "multi-partisan approach" from Liberals and Conservatives has urged Mendicino to run, with the source stating that they want an alternative to Chow.
  • Backers of Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York) say he is interested in making another run for the top job, but it may be difficult for a sitting councillor to defeat Chow in a head-to-head contest.
  • Former deputy mayor Ana Bailão is also considering a mayoral bid, and the runner-up in the 2023 mayoral byelection.
  • Former mayor John Tory is being encouraged to make a comeback, with sources at Queen's Park saying he has not ruled out a potential run.
  • Tory, who resigned in 2023, has retained a high profile in the city through frequent appearances on Newstalk 1010 and CTV News Channel.

Statistics:

  • The 2026 municipal election is scheduled for October 26.
  • Marco Mendicino has been a member of Parliament since 2015, representing the Eglinton-Lawrence riding.
  • He was a Crown prosecutor before joining Trudeau's cabinet as immigration minister in 2019.
  • He was shuffled to the public safety portfolio in 2021 and played a key role in the government's response to the "Freedom Convoy" protests.
  • He announced in January that he would not seek re-election federally.

Sources:

  • CTV News
  • Star article by Robert Benzie, Queen's Park Bureau Chief
  • Multiple anonymous sources close to Marco Mendicino
  • Sources at Queen's Park

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