Toronto Coun. Brad Bradford has entered the 2026 mayoral race, while incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election as the nomination period gets underway.
Bradford officially registered on May 1, the opening day of nominations, becoming the most prominent declared candidate in the race so far. A longtime councillor for Beaches–East York, he previously ran in the 2023 mayoral byelection, where he finished eighth in a crowded field. He is positioning his campaign around themes of affordability, public safety, and easing traffic congestion, though he has not yet released a detailed platform.
Chow, meanwhile, is widely expected to seek a second term but has not formally confirmed her plans. Speaking to reporters at McGregor Park Community Centre in Scarborough on May 1, she said she was “very focused” on her current work and would address the election at a later time….