Nearly 30 per cent of Toronto voters open to switching sides based on tonight's CP24 debate
A Nanos Research poll of 762 Toronto residents, conducted October 15 to 18, found that 29 per cent say they could change who they vote for based on tonight's CP24 debate: 13 per cent say they are open to switching and 16 per cent say they are leaning that way.
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CP24 and CTV News Toronto will host the final mayoral debate tonight at 7 p.m., and a new Nanos Research poll suggests nearly 30 per cent of Toronto voters could still change who they support based on what they hear.
Nanos Research surveyed 762 adult Toronto residents between October 15 and 18 for CP24 and CTV News Toronto. It found 13 per cent of respondents say they are open to changing their vote based on the debate, and another 16 per cent say they are leaning toward changing their vote. The margin of error for the sample is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTV News reports that the pattern extends beyond undecided voters: more than one in four committed supporters of both Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford say they could change their ballot depending on debate performance.
What voters want to hear
Cost of living was the top issue voters named, cited by 19 per cent of respondents in the Nanos survey. Congestion followed at 16 per cent, then housing affordability at 13 per cent, homelessness at 10 per cent, public safety at 9 per cent, taxes and public transit each at 8 per cent, spending at 6 per cent and mental health at 2 per cent.
The same Nanos survey found about 16 per cent of respondents were still undecided about who to vote for.
CTV News reports that the priorities split by location: Scarborough voters were most likely to name congestion as their top issue at 21.5 per cent, while voters in Etobicoke, North York and downtown were more likely to say cost of living. Among voters 55 and over, a plurality of 17.7 per cent named traffic and congestion.
When asked what qualities they want from candidates, honesty and transparency came first at 26 per cent, followed by the ability to solve problems at 22 per cent, a clear vision for the future at 19 per cent, ability to manage finances at 15 per cent and knowledge of all issues at 10 per cent.
How to watch
The debate airs free tonight on CP24 starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time. It also streams at CP24.com, CTVNewsToronto.ca, the CP24 App, the CTV News App, CP24's YouTube channel and TikTok, and on Crave. Voting day is October 26.
Questions this story answers
How many Toronto voters could switch candidates based on tonight's debate?
Nanos Research, in a poll conducted October 15 to 18, 2026 among 762 Toronto residents, found that 13 per cent of respondents say they are open to changing the candidate they plan to vote for based on debate performance, and another 16 per cent say they are leaning toward changing their vote. That is 29 per cent combined. The margin of error for the sample is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
What issues do Toronto voters most want to hear about in tonight's debate?
According to the Nanos Research poll conducted October 15 to 18, 2026, a plurality of Toronto voters, 19 per cent, said the cost of living is their most important debate issue. Other issues cited included congestion at 16 per cent, housing affordability at 13 per cent, homelessness at 10 per cent, public safety at 9 per cent, taxes at 8 per cent, public transit at 8 per cent, spending at 6 per cent and mental health at 2 per cent.
When and where is the CP24 Toronto Decides debate?
CTV News reports the CP24 Toronto Decides debate between Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford takes place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The debate will air free on CP24 and stream at CP24.com, CTVNewsToronto.ca, the CP24 App, the CTV News App, CP24's YouTube channel and TikTok, and on the streaming service Crave.
Do even committed voters say they could switch based on the debate?
Yes. CTV News reports Nanos Research found that more than one in four committed supporters of both Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford say they could change their vote depending on how each candidate performs in the debate. The poll was conducted October 15 to 18, 2026, among 762 Toronto residents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
What do the latest mayoral polls show heading into election day?
Nanos Research polling released earlier this week showed Olivia Chow with a 3.2 percentage point lead over Brad Bradford, which was within the margin of error for the sample. Multiple polls from different firms have shown the race as a close contest in the days before the October 26 vote. You can see the full list of polls at /on/toronto-2026/news.
What qualities do Toronto voters want to see from the candidates at the debate?
The Nanos Research poll, conducted October 15 to 18, 2026, among 762 Toronto residents, found that 26 per cent of respondents said honesty and transparency was the quality they most want from the candidates during the debate. Other responses included the ability to solve problems at 22 per cent, a clear vision for the future at 19 per cent, an ability to manage finances at 15 per cent and knowledge of all issues at 10 per cent.
How many Toronto voters were still undecided heading into the debate?
According to Nanos Research, the same survey conducted October 15 to 18, 2026, among 762 Toronto residents, found that about 16 per cent of respondents were still undecided about who to vote for in the Toronto mayoral race ahead of the October 26 election day.
Does geography affect what issues voters care about in the debate?
According to the Nanos Research poll conducted October 15 to 18, 2026, CTV News reports that Scarborough voters were more likely to identify congestion as their top debate issue at 21.5 per cent. Voters in Etobicoke, North York and downtown were more likely to say cost of living. Among age groups, cost of living was the top issue for those 18 to 34, cited by 28.2 per cent, and those 35 to 54, cited by 19.1 per cent. Among those 55 and up, a plurality of 17.7 per cent named traffic and congestion.
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