A recent survey conducted by Liaison Strategies, a national public opinion research firm, indicates a rise in support for Mayor Olivia Chow among decided and leaning voters in the Toronto mayoral race. The poll reveals that Chow maintains a lead with 49% backing from respondents, followed by Coun. Brad Bradford from Beaches-East York with 38% support, and Chris Alexander, a former Conservative MP and cabinet minister, at 11% support.
David Valentin, the principal at Liaison, mentioned in a statement that the latest poll, released on Thursday, shows a slight increase in Chow’s lead compared to a previous poll conducted earlier in the month by the same firm. Valentin stated, “Chow’s advantage on the ballot has expanded slightly,” highlighting the undecided pool that could still impact the campaign, emphasizing Bradford’s narrower support base.
The survey results reveal that Chow is leading Bradford by 11 points among decided and leaning voters, indicating a positive trend for her campaign. In Liaison’s previous poll on August 7, Chow had 47% support, Bradford had 40%, and Alexander had 10%. According to Valentin, in the recent survey, Chow’s support increased by two points, Bradford’s decreased by two, and Alexander’s increased by one.
The poll also shows that among all voters, not just the decided ones, Chow stands at 39%, Bradford at 30%, Alexander at 9%, and 19% remain undecided. Moreover, the survey indicates that 52% of respondents approve of Mayor Chow’s performance, while 42% disapprove.
The data was collected from a random sample of 1,000 Torontonians surveyed between August 14 and 16 via landlines and cellphones, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. The residents were polled using interactive voice recording, and the data was weighted to align with the 2021 Census targets.
Apart from mayoral preferences, respondents were asked about their views on the city’s direction, the importance of bike lanes, the naming of Sankofa Square, and the mayor’s relationship with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The survey revealed that 48% of respondents believe Toronto is moving in the right direction, while 45% think it’s heading in the wrong direction, with 7% unsure.
Regarding bike lanes, 65% of respondents consider a candidate’s stance on this issue important for their vote. The survey highlighted differing opinions based on respondents’ locations, showing a division between those advocating for more bike lanes and those in favor of reducing them.
In addition, candidate Brad Bradford has pledged to remove certain bike lanes and rename Sankofa Square if elected mayor. The survey also gauged public opinion on how the next mayor should interact with Premier Ford, with varying preferences among respondents.
The upcoming Toronto mayoral election features 45 candidates vying for the position, with more details available on the city’s official website.