Michael Ford Passes on Toronto Mayor Race

0:00Michael Ford, the 32-year-old nephew of Premier Doug Ford and the late mayor Rob Ford, just announced he won't run for Toronto mayor in the 2026 election. After kicking the tires on the idea for months, he decided against it following detox with his family. No second mayor Ford inside for now. He'd been a city counselor, school trustee, and even a provincial cabinet minister, before stepping back from politics for health reasons. Having Toronto's top job is brutal on anyone, and he weighed that hard before pulling the plug this cycle. Reactions are mixed. Plenty of fans are bummed, but some center-right folks are breathing easier. They worried his entry would split their vote against frontrunner Mayor Olivia Chow, handing her a second term on a platter. Counselor Brad Bradford, a key contender, even tweeted respect for Ford's call. The race is wide open with the vote still months away on October 26th. These floating around include former mayoral hopeful, Anthony Fury, ex-finance minister

1:00Rod Phillips, and others like Selena Caesar. Our mark. Saunders. No one's locked in yet. Ford's keeping doors open for a future shot, saying he'll stay active pushing for a safer, cheaper Toronto from the sidelines. He thinks of his uncle Rob every day, and wants that kind of energy back in City Hall someday. For now, the Ford machine stays parked. Wanted a news today, powered by AI bringing you what matters? I'm Corey, with the story.