Full Breakdown
Toronto City Council Election 2026: New Faces, Defeated Incumbents, and Ongoing Allegations
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Outcomes
Monday night’s municipal election produced a 25-member council that blends long-time incumbents with a wave of newcomers. Seven new councillors were elected, while several veteran members were unseated. The results were reported across the city’s wards, with vote shares ranging from the mid-30s to just under half of the ballots cast in each contest.
Key Races and Incoming Councillors
- Ward 19 – Beaches-East York – Former federal MP Nate Erskine-Smith captured the seat with 46.8 % of the vote, succeeding mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
- Ward 4 – Parkdale-High Park – Crisis worker Diana Chan McNally won 42.5 % of the vote, filling the vacancy left by longtime councillor Gord Perks, who retired after two decades.
- Ward 11 – University-Rosedale – Former city councillor Mike Layton, son of the late federal NDP leader Jack Layton, reclaimed his former ward with 46.3 % of the vote.
- Ward 13 – Toronto Centre – Curran Stikuts, previously director of advocacy at The 519 LGBTQ2S+ community centre, secured 28.6 % of the vote, unseating incumbent Chris Moise.
- Ward 14 – Toronto-Danforth – Toronto District School Board trustee Sarah Ehrhardt earned 46.3 % of the vote after longtime councillor Paula Fletcher retired and endorsed her.
- Ward 23 – Scarborough North – Former Liberal MP Shaun Chen won with 35.9 % of the vote, defeating incumbent Jamaal Myers (25.3 %).
- Ward 5 – York South-Weston – Human-rights activist Chiara Padovani replaced the city’s longest-serving councillor Frances Nunziata, receiving 39 % of the vote.
Incumbents Defeated or Departing
- Frances Nunziata, who had served since the 1990s, lost to Padovani after a narrow margin in the previous election.
- Jamaal Myers of Ward 23 was unseated by Shaun Chen.
- Chris Moise of Ward 13 was defeated by Stikuts.
- Brad Bradford, who vacated his Ward 19 seat to run for mayor, was not returned to council.
Returning Incumbents
Eighteen councillors retained their seats, including Amber Morley (Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore), Parthi Kandavel (Ward 20 Scarborough-Southwest), and a slate of representatives across Etobicoke, North York, and Scarborough wards.
Data & Statistics
- Vote shares for winning candidates ranged from 28.6 % (Stikuts, Ward 13) to 48.3 % (Morley, Ward 3).
- Seven new councillors entered council, while eighteen incumbents were re-elected.
- The defeated incumbents included the city’s longest-serving member, Frances Nunziata, and several others who had held office for multiple terms.
Implications and Outlook
The infusion of former federal politicians and community activists reshapes the council’s composition, potentially influencing policy priorities on housing, transportation, and social services. Ongoing investigations into alleged bribery may prompt heightened scrutiny of development approvals. As the new council convenes, the balance between experienced incumbents and fresh perspectives will shape Toronto’s municipal agenda in the coming term.