Photo credit: Toronto Today
Olivia Chow won Toronto’s mayoral election, fending off a late push from Brad Bradford to earn a second term.
Early results show Chow with more than 528,000 votes to Bradford’s 401,000, with nearly all polling stations reporting.
In her victory speech at the Great Hall on Queen Street West on Monday night, Chow said she knows voters are concerned with affordability and safety, and credited Bradford for bringing “new energy” to the campaign.
“We both want what is best for our city,” she said, addressing supporters at her campaign headquarters. “Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we get back to work.”
Chow said she believes Toronto is a place that welcomes newcomers, stands up for working people, celebrates residents’ differences, and believes everyone deserves a fair chance.
She vowed to be a mayor for all Torontonians, even those who did not vote for her.
“That’s what being mayor means to me. It means serving everyone.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters, she reiterated many of the promises she made on the campaign trail, to make TTC rides free after 10 rides per week, make the city safer, and build more affordable housing.
“These are my promises, and I will keep them,” she said.
In his concession speech on Monday night, Bradford said he wants Chow to succeed, thanked his supporters, and said his campaign faced long odds against an incumbent mayor.
Chow’s reelection means she’ll get her first four-year term, after her 2023 byelection victory saw her serve a truncated three years following John Tory’s resignation.
The victory is an endorsement of sorts for Chow’s progressive agenda. Following her 2023 win, Chow hiked taxes and poured money into transit and housing. During her campaign, she argued Toronto was in the midst of a turnaround following years of cuts and underinvestment in city services.
At Chow’s victory party, supporters were jubilant on Monday night.
Ford Junyan told Toronto Today that Chow has brought “hope” to the community.
Source: Toronto Today
