---
title: "Nine Toronto council ward races that voters should know about before October 26"
description: "CTV News identifies nine city council races with notable candidates and open seats, including Ward 19 where four frontrunners compete to replace Brad Bradford."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/nine-toronto-ward-races-october-23"
last_updated: "2026-10-24T13:49:20.259Z"
---

With Toronto's municipal election on Monday, October 26, most attention has focused on the mayoral race. CTV News reporter Phil Tsekouras identified nine city council ward races on October 23 as contests that could shape the makeup of city hall.

## Ward 19 Beaches-East York: an open seat with four frontrunners

CTV News reports that Brad Bradford held Ward 19 Beaches-East York for two consecutive terms from 2018 and vacated the seat to seek the mayorship in 2026. With no incumbent running, the outlet identifies four frontrunners: former MP and cabinet minister [Nate Erskine-Smith](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/nate-erskine-smith), CTV News journalist [Natalie Johnson](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/natalie-johnson), city worker [James Dann](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/james-dann), and community organizer [Jennie Worden](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/jennie-worden).

## Ward 11 University-Rosedale: a former councillor runs to return

CTV News reports that [Mike Layton](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/mike-layton) is running in Ward 11 University-Rosedale, where he served as councillor for 12 years until 2022. The previous incumbent, Diane Saxe, is not seeking re-election in the ward. Layton is the son of late federal NDP leader Jack Layton and the stepson of mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, according to CTV News.

## Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore: incumbent faces former MP

CTV News reports that [Amber Morley](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/amber-morley), who beat longtime representative Mark Grimes in 2022 after Grimes held the seat for nearly 20 years, faces former Conservative Member of Parliament [Ted Opitz](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/ted-opitz). Morley became the city's first Black female deputy mayor in 2023, according to CTV News.

## Ward 5 York South-Weston: a 94-vote margin from 2022

CTV News reports that Frances Nunziata, who the outlet describes as Toronto's longest-serving councillor and who was elected to council in 1998, held her Ward 5 seat in 2022 by 94 votes. [Chiara Padovani](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/chiara-padovani), the second-place finisher from 2022 and a human rights activist and social worker according to CTV News, is running again.

## Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest: allegations reported by CTV News in August

CTV News reports that a city hall source told the outlet in August 2026 that Ward 20 incumbent Parthi Kandavel allegedly asked for money to move a highrise project on Kennedy Road forward. A developer's representative separately told CTV News that Kandavel had asked for a considerable amount of money for another development to proceed. CTV News carried no response from Kandavel in this article.

Voters head to the polls on Monday, October 26, with polling stations open from 10 am to 8 pm. Voters should bring identification showing their name and address, and can find their assigned polling place using the City of Toronto's MyVote tool at myvote.toronto.ca.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.