A mayoral election was held on Monday, October 22, 2018, to elect the Mayor of the city of Toronto. Incumbent Mayor John Tory was re-elected for a second term, defeating former Chief City Planner Jennifer Keesmaat with 63.49% of the vote. Tory won all of Toronto’s 25 wards.
Registration for candidates for the office of Mayor officially opened on May 1, 2018, and closed on July 27, 2018, at 2 pm. Incumbent John Tory had been Mayor of Toronto since being elected in 2014 and launched his bid for re-election on May 1, 2018. Former city councillor Doug Ford declared his intent to run, but later withdrew to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Former Chief City Planner Jennifer Keesmaat was speculated to be considering entering the race, and after initially indicating she would not run, she announced her candidacy on July 27, 2018, the last day to register as a candidate.
Alt-right commentator Faith Goldy ran in the election as well, but placed a distant third.
Candidates Official registration for mayoral candidates opened May 1, 2018, and closed on July 27. At the close of nominations, 35 candidates have registered to run in the election.
Registered major candidates
John Tory is the incumbent Mayor of Toronto, first elected in 2014 after having lost to David Miller in 2003 and declining to run in 2010. Former CEO of Rogers Media and Rogers Cable, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario from 2005–2009, local talk radio host, and former Canadian Football League commissioner. Jennifer Keesmaat was appointed Chief City Planner of Toronto by former Mayor Rob Ford in 2012, and was speculated to be considering entering politics when she left the position in 2017. An urban planner and advocate for affordable housing, she initially declined to run for mayor but announced her candidacy on July 27, 2018.
All candidates Full list of registered candidates Candidate name Nomination date
Formerly declared candidates Doug Ford, former city councillor and runner-up in the 2014 mayoral election, announced his intention to challenge for the office a second time at a September 2017 event. However, he announced in January 2018 that he would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and would not run in the mayoral election. Blayne Lastman, son of former mayor Mel Lastman, declared on July 25 that he would enter the race, but announced a day later that he would not run.
Declined candidates Olivia Chow, placed third in the 2014 mayoral election and former MP for Trinity—Spadina. Desmond Cole, advocacy journalist. Mike Layton, city councillor for Ward 19 Trinity—Spadina (2010–2022). Sue-Ann Levy, on June 17, 2018, Levy appeared on The Rebel MediaAs it was then known and said that she was open to the possibility of a 2018 mayoral run. Giorgio Mammoliti, former city councillor for Ward 7 York West (2000–2018), former MPP for Yorkview (1990–1995)."PC MPP or mayor of Toronto? Mammoliti ponders leap". Toronto Sun, March 15, 2018. Richard Peddie, former president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Debates List of DebatesDateHosted byParticipantsModeratorRefSeptember 24, 2018ArtsVote TorontoTory, Keesmaat, Gebresellassi, Climenhaga, NathSeptember 26, 2018University of Toronto ScarboroughKeesmaat, Gebresellassi, Climenhaga
Opinion polls Polling firmLast date of pollingLink Keesmaat Tory OtherDART Insight and CommunicationsOctober 12–15, 2018PDF 2762 Forum Research PDF 29 56 15 Forum Research PDF 29 56 15 Mainstreet Research HTML 31 64 Faith Goldy 2% Sarah Climenhaga 1%Saron Gebressellassi 1% Other 1% Forum Research PDF 28 56 16 Mainstreet Research HTML 26 62 Faith Goldy 6% Other 6% Mainstreet Research HTML 28 63 10 Probit Inc. Twitter 31 64 Faith Goldy 3% Other 2% Forum Research PDF 35 65 Forum Research PDF 30 70
Endorsements Keesmaat ToryCity councillorsKristyn Wong-TamMike LaytonJoe CressyGord PerksJoe MihevcDenzil Minnan-WongJon BurnsideChristin Carmichael GrebFrances Nunziata Federal politiciansShaun Chen (Liberal, Scarborough North)Ali Ehsassi (Liberal, Willowdale)Michael Levitt (Liberal, York Centre)James Maloney (Liberal, Etobicoke-Lakeshore)John McKay (Liberal, Scarborough-Guildwood)Marco Mendicino (Liberal, Eglinton-Lawrence)Rob Oliphant (Liberal, Don Valley West)Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal, Don Valley East)Judy Sgro (Liberal, Humber River-Black Creek) Geng Tan (Liberal, Don Valley North)Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Liberal, Etobicoke Centre) Jean Yip (Liberal, Scarborough-Agincourt) Provincial politiciansJessica Bell (NDP, University-Rosedale)Suze Morrison (NDP, Toronto Centre)Marit Stiles (NDP, Davenport)Doly Begum (NDP, Scarborough Southwest)Mitzie Hunter (Liberal, Scarborough-Guildwood) Former politicians Olivia Chow (NDP MP)Jean Augustine (Liberal MP)John Baird (Conservative MP & MPP)John Carmichael (Conservative MP) Alvin Curling (Liberal MPP)C.S. Leung (Conservative MP)Peter MacKay (Conservative MP)Joe Oliver (Conservative MP)Sandra Pupatello (Liberal MPP) MediaDaily XtraSpacing Magazine Toronto Sun Toronto Star OtherRichard Peddie (Former President and CEO MLSE)Richard Underhill (Juno Award winning musician)Toronto & York Region Labour CouncilElementary Teachers of Toronto Guillermo "Gil" Penalosa (World Urban Parks Ambassador)
Tabatha Southey
Vision Zero Canada
Jean Yoon
Bruce Arthur (Toronto Star Sports Columnist)
Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene)
Edward Keenan (Toronto Star Columnist)
Heather Mallick (Toronto Star Columnist)Director X Claire Emma Kirk
Peter MacKay
Jeanne Beker
Gary Slaight
Gordon Nixon
Sheetal Jaitly
Results Official results from the City of Toronto. CandidateNumber of votes % of popular voteJohn Tory (X) 479,659 63.49Jennifer Keesmaat 178,193 23.59Faith Goldy 25,667 3.40Saron Gebresellassi 15,222 2.01Steven Lam 5,920 0.78Sarah Climenhaga4,7650.63Kevin Clarke3,8530.51Monowar Hossain3,6020.48Logan Choy3,5180.47Knia Singh3,2440.43Dobrosav Basaric2,8820.38Chris Brosky2,7820.37Jim McMillan2,4220.32Tofazzel Haque2,3070.31Drew Buckingham1,9710.26Mike Gallay1,9400.26Daryl Christoff1,7510.23Gautam Nath1,4740.20Christopher Humphrey1,4280.19Thomas O'Neill1,3250.18D!ONNE Renée1,2800.17Brian Buffey1,2750.17Brian Graff1,1390.15Michael Nicula1,0480.14Andrzej Kardys1,0350.14Joseph Pampena7730.10Jakob Vardy7570.10Kris Langenfeld6950.09James Sears6800.09Chai Kalevar6150.08Jack Weenen6070.08Ion Gelu Vintila5650.07Joseph Osuji4860.06Josh Rachlis3370.04Jim Ruel2760.04Invalid/blank votes—TotalRegistered voters/turnout
Maps
References