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2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election
November 21, 2026
Incumbent leader

John Fraser (interim)


2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election
DateNovember 21, 2026
ConventionTBD
Resigning leaderBonnie Crombie
Won byTBD
BallotsTBD
CandidatesTBD
Entrance fee$150,000
Spending limit$1,000,000

In 2026, the Ontario Liberal Party will hold a leadership election to replace Bonnie Crombie, following the announcement of her intention to resign as party leader on September 14, 2025. Voting will be conducted between November 9 and 20, while the results will be announced on November 21.

Background

In the 2025 general election, the Ontario Liberal Party saw an increase in support over their 2022 result, finishing second in the popular vote. However, the party won only 14 seats. Crombie, who had been elected leader in 2023, failed to win a seat in Mississauga East—Cooksville.

In the party's leadership review vote on September 14, 2025, Crombie obtained 57% approval from party members and subsequently announced her pending resignation as party leader.[1] She had initially announced that she would remain as leader until her successor was elected, but would ultimately resign from the position on January 14, 2026.[2]

Rules and procedures

Under the procedure outlined by the party's constitution,[3] all members of the Ontario Liberal Party will be eligible to vote directly for leader by preferential ballot and instant-runoff voting.

Votes will be weighted, with each provincial electoral district being allocated 100 points, and with points in a district allocated in proportion to each candidate by the number of first preference votes received. Each of the party's recognized student clubs will be allocated 50 points, and each of the party's recognized women's clubs will be allocated 5 points.[4]

When the ballots are counted, if no candidate receives 50 per cent of the points, the lowest-ranked candidate will be dropped from the next round, with their second choice votes distributed to the remaining candidates. This will continue until a candidate receives 50 per cent of the vote.

Timeline

2025

  • February 27 – Ontario general election held, resulting in a third consecutive majority PC government. The Liberals win 14 seats, obtaining official party status. Bonnie Crombie failed to win her own seat, but announced her intention to continue as leader in her concession speech.
  • September 14 – At the Ontario Liberal Party Annual General Meeting, 57% of delegates voted against holding a leadership contest. Crombie announced during a speech to delegates after the results were announced that she would remain as leader. However, several hours later, after meeting with the party executive, she announced her intention to resign as leader once a leadership election is held to choose her successor.[5][6]
  • September 28 — The party's executive council approved the creation of a Leadership Vote Committee chaired by party treasurer Gabriel Sékaly and including party president Kathryn McGarry to "consult with members, research best practices and provide recommendations" for the upcoming leadership election.[7][8]

2026

  • January 14 — Bonnie Crombie officially resigns as Liberal leader.[9]
  • January 19 — John Fraser who previously served as interim leader from 2018-2020 and 2022-2023, is nominated by the Ontario Liberal caucus to serve as interim leader.[10]
  • January 22 — Party's executive council, riding association presidents and caucus formally confirm selection of Fraser as interim leader.[11][12]
  • February 7 — Party president Kathryn McGarry announces details for the leadership vote, including the voting dates, entrance fee and timeline.[13][14][15]
  • July 31 - Candidate registration deadline.[15]
  • September 7 - Deadline to join the Ontario Liberal Party and be eligible to vote in the leadership election as party member.[15]
  • November 9 - Voting period begins.[15]
  • November 20 - Voting period ends.[15]
  • November 21 - Results of voting and new leader to be announced.[15]

Candidates

Potential

Declined

References

  1. ^ Cross, Jessica Smith; Cornwell, Steve (September 14, 2025). "Bonnie Crombie to step down as Ontario Liberal Party leader". The Trillium. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  2. ^ Freeman, Joshua (January 14, 2026). "Bonnie Crombie no longer Ontario Liberal leader 'effective immediately'". CTV News. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  3. ^ "Constitution of the Ontario Liberal Party" (PDF). Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. ^ Chamandy, Aidan; Pinkerton, Charlie (March 4, 2023). "Ontario Liberals to allow all members to vote in leadership elections". The Trillium. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Smith Cross, Jessica; Cornwall, Steve (September 14, 2025). "BREAKING: Bonnie Crombie to step down as Ontario Liberal Party leader". The Trillium. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Stone, Laura (September 14, 2025). "Bonnie Crombie to resign after Ontario Liberals narrowly voted against leadership contest". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "Ontario Liberal Party launches process of selecting new leader to replace Bonnie Crombie". CBC News. September 28, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "Ontario Liberal Party Begins Process to Select Next Leader". Ontario Liberal Party. September 28, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  9. ^ Freeman, Joshua (January 14, 2026). "Bonnie Crombie no longer Ontario Liberal leader 'effective immediately'". CTV News. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  10. ^ Jones, Allison (January 19, 2026). "Ontario Liberal caucus names John Fraser as pick for interim leader". Canadian Press. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  11. ^ "Ontario Liberal Party Confirms John Fraser as Interim Leader". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  12. ^ Ercit, Jordan (January 24, 2026). "John Fraser confirmed as interim Ontario Liberal leader after party vote". Windsor Star. Postmedia. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Ferguson, Rob (February 7, 2026). "Ontario Liberals to elect new leader in the fall". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ^ "Ontario Liberal Party to select new leader Nov. 21". CBC News. The Canadian Press. February 7, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Leadership Election Details". www.ontarioliberal.ca. Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j D'Mello, Colin; Callan, Isaac (September 15, 2025). "Ontario Liberals prepare for another leadership election. Who's in?". Global News. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Cohn, Martin Regg (September 14, 2025). "For Bonnie Crombie, there will be no new beginning, as the Liberal leader resigns". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Welsh, Moira. "The Ontario Liberal leadership race got another 'maybe,' this time from a federal MP". Toronto Star. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Patrocinio, Barbara (November 25, 2025). "A first look at the possible contenders for the Ontario Liberal Leadership". QP Briefing. iPolitics. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  20. ^ "SCOOP: Calling Crawley". www.policorner.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  21. ^ "How one defection to Mark Carney's Liberals set off a political earthquake at Queen's Park". Toronto Star. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  22. ^ Lavoie, Joanna (February 3, 2026). "Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith plans to run for Ontario Liberal leader". CTV News. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  23. ^ a b Paikin, Steve (October 8, 2025). "ANALYSIS: Who wants to lead the Ontario Liberals?". tvo Today. TVOntario. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  24. ^ Schmidt, Hannah (January 10, 2026). "Former St. Mary's General Hospital president considering Ontario Liberal leadership bid". CTVNews. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  25. ^ Nanji, Sabrina (November 6, 2025). "This Grit veteran is betting on an outsider to save the party". Queen's Park Observer. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  26. ^ "SCOOP: Is this the dark horse in the race for Liberal leader?". www.policorner.ca. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  27. ^ Chamandy, Aidan (January 29, 2026). "Toronto housing advocate considering Ontario Liberal Party leadership bid". torontotoday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  28. ^ a b "Nate Erskine-Smith isn't saying if he'll join race to become Ontario Liberal leader". Toronto Star. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  29. ^ Spurr, Ben (January 29, 2026). "Toronto councillor Josh Matlow not closing door on Liberal leadership bid". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  30. ^ Elbayoumi, Ahmad (February 9, 2026). "Let the race begin". Policorner. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  31. ^ "MP Karina Gould declines Ontario Liberal leadership bid". Burlington Today. Village Media. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  32. ^ "Hsu decides not to run for Liberal party leadership". The Kingston Whig-Standard. January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  33. ^ Online, Doppler (September 22, 2025). "District Chair says he's not running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party". Huntsville Doppler. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  34. ^ Steven, Benjamin Lopez (January 31, 2026). "Liberals announce Danielle Martin will be their candidate for University-Rosedale byelection". CBC News. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  35. ^ Stone, Laura (September 15, 2025). "Ontario Liberal caucus says it didn't press Bonnie Crombie to resign". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
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