A mayoral by-election was held on Monday, June 26, 2023, to elect the 66th mayor of Toronto to serve the remainder of the 2022âÂÂ2026 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 5p.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.
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.
Graphical Summary
Prior to campaign period
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 EglintonâÂÂLawrence 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 RiverâÂÂBlack Creek with 33.0 per cent.