Bonnie Crombie will officially enter the race for mayor of Mississauga: Why?

By Pepper Parr

July 12th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

OPINION

Bonnie Crombie will officially enter the race for mayor of Mississauga on Tuesday, ending months of speculation that the most recent Ontario Liberal leader would try to win back her old job.

This is the definition of “wearing out your welcome” and what has led the public to the point where they now feel the politicians are in it for themselves.

Bonnie Crombie was seen as a “cinch” to become Premier when the election was called. She wasn’t able to win the seat she was running in.

Crombie succeeded the legendary Hazel McCallion as mayor in 2014.

The Toronto Star reports that: “After being re-elected to a third term in a landslide in 2022, she left to run for the Ontario Liberal leadership a year later. Though the party made back some ground and regained official party status in the 2025 provincial election, Crombie lost her bid for the Mississauga—Cooksville seat and resigned as leader in January.

“Crombie announced her intention to resign after earning a tepid 57 percent support in a mandatory leadership review vote following the 2025 provincial election.

“While Crombie’s time at the helm was mixed, Liberal fortunes improved under her watch. The party won 30 percent of the popular vote in the February 2025 election, second to Ford’s Progressive Conservatives and higher than the 18.5 per cent won by the New Democrats, who hold the second-most seats and serve as the Official Opposition.

Bonnie Crombie in Burlington is looking for support.

“The party also increased its seat count from nine to 14 MPPs, and boosted fundraising events that added millions of dollars to Liberal coffers for the first time since 2018.

“Crombie will be running against former council colleague and current mayor Carolyn Parrish, who won a June 2024 by-election, as well as current councillors Alvin Tedjo and Dipika Damerla.

“Her candidacy could also change the mayoral campaign into a fierce battle between two high-profile rivals, potentially opening up an unexpected pathway to victory for lesser-known candidates like Tedjo and Damerla.

“Crombie won the 2022 mayoral election with 78 per cent of the popular vote. In the 2024 by-election, Parrish was elected with 31 percent of the vote, while Tedjo received 25 percent and Damerla 19 percent.”

People run for public office to serve those that elect them.  That understanding is changing; people are running for public office to serve themselves. Crombie needs to be solidly trounced.