What to know
- It’s the final day of voting in the 2026 Toronto Municipal election and Now Toronto camped outside of Fairmount Community Centre to chat with Beaches—East York voters.
- Rose K. and Patricia B. are two longtime Beaches residents. They’re both voting for Olivia Chow for mayor as they believe she cares more about Torontonians.
- Resident Brianne C. says she’s not voting for Bradford due to his lack of practical experience.
It’s the final day in the 2026 Toronto municipal election, and the race for the mayoral seat is tighter than ever.
The frontrunners in the race are incumbent mayor Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford, who has represented Beaches—East York as city councillor for the last eight years.
Polling numbers from Mainstreet Research show Bradford leading the race by just over one point 48.9 per cent, compared to Chow’s 47.5 per cent.
But who are Beaches—East York residents actually voting for? To find out, Now Toronto camped outside of Fairmount Park Community Centre’s polling station to chat with voters. Here’s what they said.
Longtime Beaches resident Rose K. says she voted for Olivia Chow even though her track record hasn’t been perfect. She says she doesn’t trust Bradford because “he’s just harnessing angry people to get elected.”
“He’ll flip flop and change his mind like he usually does,” Rose says. “And I don’t want AI data centres. I think it’s really ridiculous to borrow money to give people a property tax decrease because I pay property taxes and I keep my own accounts. I know that when you pay interest on things, it just makes everything more expensive. So it just doesn’t make mathematical sense to me.”
When asked about her nerves come election night, Rose admits she is nervous, but she believes “what will be, will be.”
“I did my part, and I know at this point what will be, will be. Am I nervous? Yes, but at this point, there’s nothing I could do.”
Another Beaches resident, Patricia B., also voted for Olivia Chow for mayor. She says Chow cares about the city, and that “she’s a better candidate than a lot of the other ones.”
Patricia says she didn’t vote for Bradford because she doesn’t think he puts himself on the line enough in his eight years as city councillor.
“I don’t think he likes to put himself out for things that are maybe controversial, and I just don’t think he cares enough.”
Finally, Brianne C. says she too is planning on voting for Olivia Chow in hopes she is re-elected to a second term.
“Overall, she’s the best candidate. She has more experience,” she explains.
“I know that things could be improved. But I’d rather things go on the upward scale than go back down with another candidate being elected.”
Brianne says Bradford is not getting her vote due to his lack of experience — it’s the “number one practical reason.”
“There’s been a lot of talking and not necessarily a lot of action backing up what he’s promised or said he’s going to do.”
