2023 Toronto mayoral by-election

A mayoral by-election was held on Monday, June 26, 2023, to elect the 66th mayor of Toronto to serve the remainder of the 2022–2026 city council term following the resignation of Mayor John Tory. The election was won by Olivia Chow, a former city councillor and member of Parliament (MP). She defeated former deputy mayor Ana Bailão, former police chief Mark Saunders, and 99 other candidates. Chow assumed office on July 12, 2023.

On February 10, 2023, Mayor Tory announced his intention to resign following the admission of an affair with a staffer; he left office on February 17, 2023. The deputy mayor, Jennifer McKelvie, assumed certain mayoral powers and was the highest ranking official in the city until a permanent successor was elected. The nomination period for candidates opened on April 3, 2023, closing on May 12, with 102 registered candidates.

Tory was first elected in the 2014 mayoral election, and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. On February 10, 2023, the Toronto Star sent a series of questions to the mayor regarding a relationship he had with a female staffer in his office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tory confirmed the allegations, admitting to making a "serious error in judgement". Later in the day, Tory announced his intention to resign as mayor of Toronto.

Allies of Tory including city councillors Jon Burnside, Frances Nunziata and Gary Crawford had urged him to stay as mayor, and not resign the post. Premier Doug Ford and the Toronto Police Association also encouraged him not to resign.

Following the passage of the budget on February 15, Tory submitted a letter of resignation to the city clerk, to be effective February 17, 2023, at 5 p.m. During the vacancy, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie performed the duties of the mayor's office until a permanent successor was elected.

Polling during the election campaign suggested that Tory would win the election if he was a candidate. Despite stating that he would not endorse a candidate, Tory subsequently endorsed former deputy mayor Ana Bailão.

Under the City of Toronto Act, Toronto City Council must declare the office of mayor vacant following Tory's resignation. Within 60 days, a by-law must be passed to set up a by-election. A nomination period for candidates occurs, lasting a minimum of 30 and maximum of 60 days after the formal declaration of a by-election and ends 45 days before the election. The by-election is projected to cost the city approximately $13 million to run. Municipal elections in Toronto are non-partisan, and are held under first-past-the-post voting.

The City Clerk's Office announced that it would recommend the nomination period open on April 3, 2023, and close on May 12, with the by-election to be held on June 26. The office of mayor was formally declared vacant during the March 29 city council meeting and a by-law was passed to confirm the by-election.

The number of candidates led to suggestion that the barrier to entry be increased.

Over 10 mayoral debates took place during the campaign. A planned debate at OCAD University (in collaboration with 60 Toronto residents' associations) scheduled to take place on June 1, 2023, was cancelled after threats were made to candidates prior to the event. A planned debate on climate action at the University of Toronto School of the Environment scheduled to take place on June 5, 2023, was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

Mail-in voting package for the by-election

A polling station in downtown Toronto

The campaign office of the by-election winner Olivia Chow

Registration for candidates for the office of mayor officially opened on April 3, 2023. The deadline for candidate nominations closed Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m. 105 candidates were nominated, with three candidates withdrawing their candidacy prior to the election. 102 candidates therefore ran for the office of mayor.

• Stan Cho, provincial associate minister of transportation (2021–present) and Progressive Conservative MPP for Willowdale (2018–present).
• Michael Clemons, general manager of the Toronto Argonauts and Canadian Football Hall of Famer.
• Josh Colle, former city councillor for Eglinton—Lawrence (2010–2018) and former chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (2014–2018).
• Joe Cressy, senior vice president at George Brown College, former city councillor for Spadina—Fort York (2014–2022).
• Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal MP for Beaches—East York (2015–present).
• Doug Ford, 26th premier of Ontario and Progressive Conservative MPP for Etobicoke North (2018–present), runner-up in the 2014 mayoral election, former city councillor for Etobicoke North (2010–2014).
• Stephen Holyday, city councillor for Etobicoke Centre (2014–present).
• Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of housing and diversity and inclusion (2021–present) and Liberal MP for York South—Weston (2015–present).
• Bhutila Karpoche, New Democratic MPP for Parkdale—High Park (2018–present).
• Jennifer Keesmaat, former chief city planner (2012–2017) and runner-up in the 2018 mayoral election.
• Mike Layton, former city councillor for Ward 11 University—Rosedale (2018–2022) and Ward 19 Trinity—Spadina (2010–2018).
• Marco Mendicino, federal minister of public safety (2021–present) and Liberal MP for Eglinton—Lawrence (2015–present).
• Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor of Toronto (2022–present) and city councillor for Scarborough—Rouge Park (2018–present).
• Denzil Minnan-Wong, former deputy mayor of Toronto (2014–2022) and former city councillor for Don Valley East (1998–2022).
• Gil Peñalosa, runner-up in the 2022 mayoral election and urbanist.
• Rod Phillips, former provincial minister of long-term care (2021–2022), minister of finance (2019–2020), minister of the environment, conservation and parks (2018–2019), Progressive Conservative MPP for Ajax (2018–2022).
• Kristyn Wong-Tam, New Democratic MPP for Toronto Centre (2022–present) and former city councillor for Toronto Centre-Rosedale (2010–2022).
• Kathleen Wynne, 25th premier of Ontario (2013–2018), former Liberal MPP for Don Valley West (2003–2022).

Gary Anandasangaree Julie Dzerowicz Ali Ehsassi Peter Fonseca Ahmed Hussen James Maloney Judy Sgro Charles Sousa Arif Virani Jean Yip Salma Zahid MPPs:

Mary-Margaret McMahon | Former Toronto mayors: Art Eggleton Barbara Hall John Tory Former city councillors:

Glenn De Baeremaeker Chin Lee Cesar Palacio Ceta Ramkhalawansingh Former MPPs:

Alvin Curling Cristina Martins | Public sector: Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79 CUPE Local 416 Private sector:

Carpenters Local 27 Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Local 183 LiUNA! Local 506 UNITE HERE Local 75 | Media: Toronto Star | | Brad Bradford | Ontario mayors: Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph MPs:

Scott Aitchison | Former city councillors: Case Ootes | | | | Olivia Chow | City councillors: Alejandra Bravo Lily Cheng Paula Fletcher Ausma Malik Amber Morley Jamaal Myers Gord Perks MPs:

Charlie Angus Peter Julian MPPs:

Doly Begum Jessica Bell Chris Glover Joel Harden Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition Kristyn Wong-Tam School board trustees:

Maria Rizzo Neethan Shan | Former city councillors: Mike Layton Former MPs:

Libby Davies Former MPPs:

Cheri DiNovo Faisal Hassan Suze Morrison Gurratan Singh | Public sector: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canada ATU Local 113 CUPE Local 4948 CUPE 3902 CUPE Ontario Elementary Teachers of Toronto Ontario Public Service Employees Union Toronto Secondary Unit-Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association Private sector:

Canadian Office and Professional Employees (COPE) Local 343 United Food and Commercial Workers Canada United Steelworkers Toronto Area Council | People: Christine Boyle, Vancouver city councillor Sook-Yin Lee, broadcaster and film director Mae Martin, comedian Steve Munro, transit advocate Gil Penalosa, 2022 election runner-up Sarah Polley, filmmaker Duke Redbird, poet Brent Toderian, former Vancouver chief planner Jean Yoon, actress Organizations:

Progress Toronto | | Anthony Furey | | Former city councillors: Rob Davis Giorgio Mammoliti Former MPs:

John Baird Pauline Browes Sarmite Bulte Joe Oliver Dan McTeague Dennis Mills Former MPPs:

Roman Baber John Hastings Gila Martow Bob Runciman Peter Shurman John Snobelen Gordon Walker Former senators:

Vern White | | People: Jerry Agar, radio host Conrad Black, member of the British House of Lords, former newspaper publisher Stephen LeDrew, lawyer and broadcaster Sue-Ann Levy, conservative political commentator Mark McEwan, celebrity chef Jordan Peterson, media commentator and former psychology professor Mike Weaver, former professional hockey player | | Mitzie Hunter | | Former MPPs: Brad Duguid | | People: Dave Meslin, community organizer and activist Chase Tang, actor | | Josh Matlow | MPs: Carolyn Bennett Michael Coteau Rob Oliphant | Former Toronto mayors: John Sewell Former city councillors:

David Soknacki Former MPPs:

Greg Sorbara Former MPs:

Gerard Kennedy | | People: Jay Douglas, musician Erica Ehm, former Much Music VJ Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison, entertainers Nick Kypreos, former professional hockey player Organizations:

Armenian National Committee of Toronto | | Mark Saunders | City councillors: Stephen Holyday MPPs:

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario | | Public sector: CUPE Local 5089 | Media: Toronto Sun |

Graphical Summary

Opinion Polling for the 2023 Toronto Mayoral By-Election

Campaign period

Prior to campaign period

Each dot represents 1,000 votes for a candidate in that ward. Dots are placed randomly within the ward.

Results map by polling subdivision, with opacity adjusted by vote density

Turnout map by polling subdivision

The election took place on Monday, 26 June 2023, with official results certified by the City Clerk two days later. The turnout was 38.5%, around 9% higher than the 2022 election.

Olivia Chow had the highest percentage of votes in Ward 13 Toronto Centre with 54.6 per cent, Ana Bailão had the highest in Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence with 46.8 per cent, Mark Saunders had the highest in the Ward 1 Etobicoke North with 15.4 per cent, and the candidates other than the top three had collectively the highest in the Ward 7 Humber River—Black Creek with 33.0 per cent.