Gil Penalosa has dropped out of the race for Toronto’s next mayor and is endorsing mayoral candidate Olivia Chow.
Penalosa made the announcement Wednesday morning, along with MPP for Toronto Centre Kristyn Wong-Tam, who also supports Chow to be the city’s next mayor.
Penalosa is an urbanist, and was former mayor John Tory’s biggest challenger in the Oct. 2022 election.
“Toronto is growing fast. We need to act now to create a magnificent city for future generations to live in and enjoy. We can’t rely on the same people who have served in city hall for the last ten years. Olivia has the experience, values and the sense of urgency to make our city more inclusive and liveable for everyone,” Penalosa said in a press release on Wednesday.
“Mayors can make a big difference in a city. To me, the choice could not be more clear. Olivia is the right person to bring positive, progressive change to our city,” he continued.
READ MORE: ‘People in Toronto are feeling stuck’: Olivia Chow joins race to be Toronto’s next mayor
Wong-Tam served as a Toronto city councilor for 12 years before leaving her seat to run in last year’s provincial election.
“Olivia Chow has been a giant presence in my life since I was in public school. She’s helped create community services for working class kids like me to grow up strong and be able to give back to the city I love,” Wong-Tam said in the news release.
“Olivia’s high-level energy and ability to solve complex problems are legendary to the communities she has served. She will make an exceptional mayor for our exceptional Toronto. Just watch her,” they continued.
Chow confirmed she was running for the top job on Monday. She joins a long list of contenders vying for the position, including former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders, councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford and Scarborough MPP Mitzie Hunter.
The city’s mayoral by-election is set for June 26.
