As the adage states, it is better to be lucky than good. Toronto mayor Olivia Chow has certainly enjoyed her fair share of luck throughout her political career. She and her husband, former NDP leader Jack Layton, were the country’s most famous progressive power couple, and they rode that fame to higher office. In 2023, Mayor John Tory abruptly resigned due to a sex scandal in which he admitted to engaging in a relationship with a 31-year-old female office staffer. His resignation triggered a chaotic, fast-paced election with over 100 candidates. This was Chow’s chance to pursue her dream of becoming mayor of the country’s largest city. Chow won with only 37% of the vote against a divided group of weak conservative candidates. This time, Chow will need more luck, as councillor Brad Bradford presents a compelling, future-oriented platform that has shifted the race and put Chow’s campaign on the defensive as his poll numbers rise.
CRESCIA: Toronto cannot survive another term of Olivia Chow
