The True Post (Web News) | MUHAMMAD AMANULLAH | October 26, 2026
Toronto’s municipal elections are less than a week away, with closely contested races expected in several wards across the city. The absence of long-serving councillors in some districts, the return of former candidates and the entry of new contenders have made several council races particularly significant.
More than 50 candidates are running for mayor of Toronto. However, following Chris Alexander’s withdrawal from the mayoral race, attention has increasingly focused on the contest between Brad Bradford and incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow.
Alongside the mayoral election, several ward-level races are attracting considerable interest. These include Parkdale–High Park, York South–Weston, University–Rosedale, Toronto Centre, Toronto–Danforth and Beaches–East York.
Ward 4: Parkdale–High Park
Parkdale–High Park will have a new representative after long-serving councillor Gord Perks decided not to seek re-election. Perks represented the ward for nearly two decades and announced earlier this year that he would not run again.
Among the leading candidates seeking to succeed him are Nadia Guerrera, Debbie King and Diana Chan McNeilly.
Guerrera ran as a candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in the 2025 provincial election but lost to the New Democratic Party candidate. She has lived in Parkdale–High Park for more than 20 years and has worked as a teacher and community leader. She also established the Centre for Healthy Communities, a research centre focused on social innovation and improving community well-being.
Debbie King has served as a trustee with the Toronto District School Board since 2022 and is now seeking a seat on city council. She describes herself as a community organizer and communications professional.
Diana Chan McNeilly is entering elected politics for the first time. However, she is already known for her involvement in community issues, social services and helping people during emergencies.
With Perks stepping aside after years of representing the ward, the contest to succeed him has become one of the notable races in this municipal election.
Ward 5: York South–Weston
York South–Weston is expected to see another closely fought contest between incumbent councillor Frances Nunziata and her former challenger, Chiara Padovani.
In the previous municipal election, Nunziata defeated Padovani by just 94 votes. The narrow margin has set the stage for another closely watched race between the two candidates.
Nunziata has served on Toronto City Council since 1997. Before the amalgamation of York with Toronto, she served as mayor of York. Her public service career dates back to 1985, when she was first elected as a school board trustee.
She is Toronto City Council’s longest-serving member and has also held the position of council speaker since 2010.
Padovani, meanwhile, is a human rights advocate and social policy specialist who has also worked with the North York Harvest Food Bank.
This time, Padovani is seeking to overcome her previous 94-vote defeat and bring a change in representation to the ward. Her campaign also reflects calls for new leadership after years under the same representative.
Ward 11: University–Rosedale
The electoral landscape in University–Rosedale changed when incumbent councillor Dianne Saxe decided to switch wards shortly before the nomination deadline. Instead of seeking re-election in University–Rosedale, she announced that she would run in Toronto–Danforth.
Initially, Saxe was expected to face former councillor Mike Layton, who represented the ward until 2022. With Layton having decided not to run in the current election, the seat had appeared to be open for Saxe to defend.
Explaining her decision to change wards, Saxe said she was proud of the achievements made during her time representing University–Rosedale and believed their impact would continue to be felt for years to come.
Her move to Toronto–Danforth has opened up the race in University–Rosedale, bringing renewed attention to Mike Layton, the son of former federal NDP leader Jack Layton and stepson of current Mayor Olivia Chow.
Layton has expressed an interest in returning to city hall. Affordable housing is among the key issues he has highlighted. He previously stepped away from city council to focus on his family.
Ward 13: Toronto Centre
The race in Toronto Centre has become more interesting after Ontario NDP MPP and former city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam announced support for challenger Kaelen Staits rather than incumbent councillor Chris Moise.
The development is notable because Wong-Tam supported Moise in the previous municipal election, when he secured a decisive victory in 2022.
Before entering city council, Moise worked as a police officer and in the healthcare sector. He also served as a school board trustee and vice-chair.
His challenger, Kaelen Staits, has been associated with The 519 community centre for more than a decade and recently served as its director of advocacy.
Wong-Tam endorsed Staits, saying she had worked with him and had seen his practical efforts to address community concerns.
Public safety and housing are among the central issues in the ward. Candidates will need to explain how they intend to address these concerns and respond to the needs of local residents.
Ward 14: Toronto–Danforth
The race in Toronto–Danforth changed significantly when incumbent councillor Paula Fletcher announced, just days before the nomination deadline, that she would not seek re-election and was retiring from city council.
Her decision prompted Dianne Saxe to switch from University–Rosedale and enter the race in Ward 14.
Saxe is an environmental and energy lawyer who previously served as deputy leader of the Green Party of Ontario. She also served as Ontario’s last environmental commissioner.
In the 2022 municipal election, she won the University–Rosedale seat by defeating the runner-up by just 123 votes.
Former councillor Mary Fragedakis is also returning to the race. She lost to Fletcher in the 2018 election, when their previous wards were combined to form a single district.
Fragedakis registered her candidacy only hours before the nomination deadline on Friday. For the past seven years, she has served as executive director of the Greektown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area.
She also ran as the Liberal candidate in Toronto–Danforth in the 2022 provincial election but lost to Peter Tabuns.
Another candidate is Sarah Ehrhardt, a school board trustee who decided to enter the race after Fletcher announced her retirement. A local resident and parent, Ehrhardt has previously worked in public policy.
The candidates’ varied backgrounds and experience have made Toronto–Danforth a multi-sided contest, with voters set to choose a new representative following Fletcher’s departure.
Ward 19: Beaches–East York
Beaches–East York is another ward where the incumbent councillor will not seek re-election. Brad Bradford has chosen to run for mayor, leaving the council seat open.
Former federal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is among the prominent candidates seeking the position. He previously represented the federal riding of Beaches–East York and is now looking to return to public office at the municipal level in the same area.
A lawyer by profession, Erskine-Smith was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015. He subsequently won re-election in three consecutive federal elections.
Former broadcast journalist Natalie Johnson is also running in Beaches–East York. With Bradford entering the mayoral race, the contest has become an important opportunity for candidates seeking to represent the ward at city hall.
What Issues Will Shape the Election?
The races across Toronto’s wards have gained significance for several reasons. In some districts, the retirement of long-serving councillors has created opportunities for new candidates. In others, narrow defeats in previous elections have set the stage for rematches. Meanwhile, decisions by sitting councillors to switch wards have reshaped the electoral landscape.
Affordable housing, public safety, community needs and municipal services are also expected to play important roles in the campaigns.
Alongside the mayoral contest between Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford, the results in these wards will help determine the future composition of Toronto City Council and the direction of the city’s municipal leadership.
