What to know
- Nineteen of Toronto’s 25 city councillors are set to return to City Hall following the 2026 municipal election.
- Chiara Padovani defeated longtime Ward 5 councillor Frances Nunziata after losing to her by just 94 votes in 2022.
- Former councillor Mike Layton is returning to represent University-Rosedale after a four-year absence.
- Newcomers also won in Parkdale-High Park, Toronto Centre, Toronto-Danforth and Scarborough North, according to the reported results
Toronto’s 2026 municipal election has come to a close, with most incumbent councillors securing another term at City Hall. However, several wards will welcome new representatives as voters usher in a new chapter in Toronto politics.
Voters headed to the polls on Monday to elect Toronto’s mayor, 25 city councillors and school board trustees.
While 19 of the 25 councillors are set to return to City Hall for another term, the election has also brought significant changes in several wards, with new candidates defeating incumbents or filling seats left vacant by outgoing councillors.
Here’s a look at the incoming councillors and the outgoing representatives in the affected wards.
Ward 4: Parkdale-High Park
Community advocate and outreach worker Diana Chan McNally has been elected to represent Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, at City Hall.
Her victory follows longtime councillor Gord Perks’ decision not to seek re-election, leaving the seat open to a new representative.
McNally secured a decisive victory, receiving 20,314 votes.
Ward 5: York South-Weston
In Ward 5, York South-Weston, Chiara Padovani defeated incumbent councillor Frances Nunziata, securing 13,407 votes, according to the city’s unofficial election results.
Nunziata, a longtime fixture in Toronto politics, served on council for 28 years and previously served as mayor of the former City of York.
The result marks a significant reversal from the 2022 election, when Nunziata defeated Padovani by just 94 votes.
This time, Nunziata finished third with 7,441 votes, behind Daniel Di Giorgio, who placed second with 8,881 votes.
Ward 11: University-Rosedale
Former councillor Mike Layton is returning to City Hall after four years away from municipal politics.
Layton represented University-Rosedale from 2010 to 2022 before deciding not to seek re-election in 2022. As a result, Dianne Saxe won the seat.
Saxe later entered the race in Toronto-Danforth following incumbent councillor Paula Fletcher’s retirement announcement, leaving University-Rosedale open to a new councillor.
Layton won the ward with 19,388 votes, reclaiming the seat he previously held for 12 years.
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Ward 13: Toronto Centre
In Ward 13, Toronto Centre, newcomer Curran Stikuts will head to City Hall after defeating incumbent councillor Chris Moise.
Stikuts received 11,877 votes, while Moise finished second with 9,690.
Moise was first elected to council in 2022 and received the endorsement of NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam during that election cycle. This time, however, Wong-Tam threw her support behind Stikuts.
The result marks a change in representation for the downtown ward after Moise’s first term on council.
Ward 14: Toronto-Danforth
Sara Ehrhardt has been elected to represent Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth, defeating former councillor Mary Fragedakis and incumbent University-Rosedale councillor Dianne Saxe, who entered the race following her decision to run outside her previous ward.
Ehrhardt secured 22,440 votes to win the seat.
Her victory brings a new representative to Toronto-Danforth following Paula Fletcher’s decision to retire.
Ward 22: Scarborough North
In Scarborough North, former federal MP Shaun Chen defeated incumbent councillor Jamaal Myers to win a seat on Toronto City Council.
Chen represented Scarborough North in the House of Commons for approximately a decade before resigning in August, citing ongoing health issues following a 2025 automobile accident.
He secured 9,828 votes, while Myers received 6,943.
Myers also served as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board during his time on council.
Chen’s victory marks a return to public office at the municipal level after his years representing the area federally.
