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Marco Mendicino Considers Toronto Mayoral Bid, Throwing His Hat into Ring of Competition

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Sources close to Marco Mendicino, a former Liberal cabinet member, say he is considering a run for mayor of Toronto, potentially challenging incumbent Olivia Chow in next year's municipal election. Advocates from both the Liberal and Conservative parties have approached Mendicino to throw his hat into the ring, citing a desire for an alternative to Chow. Mendicino, a former immigration minister, would enter the mayoral contest with a strong track record in the city's Jewish community and a background in politics.

Key Takeaways:

  • Marco Mendicino, a former Liberal cabinet member, is considering a run for mayor of Toronto, according to multiple sources close to him.
  • A growing chorus of voices, including those from the Liberal and Conservative parties, is urging Mendicino to run for mayor, seeing him as an alternative to incumbent Olivia Chow.
  • Some Progressive Conservatives with ties to Queen's Park have also approached Mendicino, noting his positive standing in the Jewish community.
  • Other potential contenders include Coun. Brad Bradford, who finished eighth in the June 2023 mayoral byelection, and former deputy mayor Ana Bailão, the runner-up in the 2024 city election.
  • Former mayor John Tory is also being encouraged to make a comeback, with sources saying he is pointedly not shutting down speculation about returning to city politics.
  • Mendicino's potential mayoral bid comes as questions swirl around Parliament Hill about who will serve as chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), a role which he currently holds.

Statistics:

  • 17 months remain before the Oct. 26, 2026 mayoral election.
  • The "centre right" of the spectrum is seen as an opening for Mendicino, who could fill it in the next mayoral contest.
  • In recent weeks, several names have circulated as potential replacements for Mendicino in the chief of staff role, including former Trudeau adviser Mathieu Bouchard and David Lametti, a former Trudeau cabinet minister.
  • The Star confirmed that Marc-André Blanchard, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, was not approached for the job.

Sources:

  • The Star, CTV News, "Multiple sources", an insider, a source familiar with Mendicino's thinking, a third source, a source at Queen's Park, a government source, The Associated Press, "Former Trudeau adviser",

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