The former Ontario Liberal leader confirmed Tuesday that she is entering the race for Mayor of Mississauga, the position she voluntarily walked away from at the start of 2024 to pursue provincial politics. In a message circulated to supporters ahead of her official registration at the city’s civic centre, Crombie made clear she is ready to return to the role she held for nearly a decade.
“Please join me as I officially register as a candidate for Mayor of Mississauga,” she wrote in the note, obtained by Global News. “I’d love to have you there as we mark this exciting moment together.”
The move closes a turbulent chapter in Crombie’s political career. After winning the 2022 Mississauga mayoral election by a significant margin, she stepped down to lead the Ontario Liberals into the 2025 provincial election. The campaign did not go as hoped the Liberals finished third, though they managed to capture roughly 30 per cent of the popular vote. Crombie initially pledged to hold her ground as party leader, but a lukewarm leadership review forced her hand, and she resigned from the role.
Since then, Crombie has remained a visible presence in Mississauga, attending local events and keeping speculation alive about whether she might make a bid to reclaim her old seat.
Now that bid is official and the road back won’t be easy.
Standing in her way is incumbent Mayor Carolyn Parrish, who won the 2024 by-election triggered by Crombie’s departure. Parrish wasted little time responding to the announcement, taking a pointed jab at her challenger on social media.
“Well well. Bonnie Crombie announced today, at a community BBQ, that Mississauga needs stable leadership. I agree! I believe in fact we have that now!” Parrish wrote, adding a subtle dig at Crombie’s provincial ambitions: “No aspirations to other levels of government. Total dedication to our city.”
Crombie will also have to contend with the political weight of Premier Doug Ford, who clashed with her frequently during her time as Liberal leader. Ford has publicly thrown his support behind Parrish and promised to deploy a significant ground operation to block Crombie’s comeback.
The race is further crowded by the presence of Councillors Dipika Damerla and Alvin Tedjo, both of whom have already registered their candidacies.
Mississauga voters will ultimately decide whether Crombie’s experience and name recognition outweigh the narrative of a politician who left them behind once before and whether a comeback story is one they’re willing to write.
