Mississauga’s mayoral contest is intensifying with 14 candidates officially registered to compete for the city’s top position in the upcoming 2026 municipal election.
Residents will cast their votes on Oct. 26 to determine the future of current Mayor Carolyn Parrish, who took office during a byelection in 2024 after a long career as both a city councillor and Liberal MP.
The latest survey from Liaison Strategies, released on Aug. 14, indicates that it’s shaping up to be a close competition between Parrish and former Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie.
Crombie served as mayor for ten years but stepped down in 2024 to lead the Ontario Liberal Party. After failing to win a seat in the provincial legislature during the 2025 Ontario provincial election, she resigned from that role too. Now, she aims to reclaim her previous position in what is expected to be a competitive race.
Here’s the official list of those running for mayor:
Carolyn Parrish
Parrish currently serves as Mississauga’s Mayor, having assumed this role in 2024. Before becoming mayor, she was a city councillor and represented Mississauga-Erindale as an MP. Additionally, she was a trustee and later chairperson of the Peel Board of Education. Prior to her political career, she worked as a school teacher in Etobicoke.
Bonnie Crombie
Crombie was Mississauga’s sixth mayor from 2014 until her resignation in 2024 when she took over leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Following her unsuccessful bid for a seat in the provincial legislature during the 2025 general election, Crombie left that position too. She previously served as Ward 5 city councillor and represented Mississauga-Streetsville from 2008 until 2011.
Alvin Tedjo
Tedjo has been serving as Ward 2’s councillor since winning his seat in 2022. He also participated in the mayoral race back in 2024, finishing second. Before entering politics, Tedjo worked as a communications strategist for Toronto Metropolitan University and Sheridan College.
Dipika Damerla
Damerla represents Ward 7 as its incumbent councillor. She previously held office as MPP for Mississauga-East Cooksville and was minister of senior affairs under former premier Kathleen Wynne. She ran again during the recent byelection but finished third.
Karam Ahmed
Ahmed works locally as a tow operator and is campaigning to enhance living conditions, lower taxes, and tackle crime effectively.
Aamir Bhatti
Bhatti identifies himself as a businessman involved in real estate development and investment. With degrees in political science and international relations from both Punjab University and Amsterdam University, he sees himself “a common man who wants to work for the common people.” His campaign focuses on helping families while reducing living costs.
Gord Elliot
Elliot refers to himself as a “dream maker,” dedicated to helping solve people’s challenges. He aims to reverse property tax hikes while advocating for stronger tenant rights along with more oversight on high-rise developments throughout Mississauga.
Frank Fang
An economist by trade, Fang has also taken part in various municipal and federal elections over two decades while gaining attention through viral videos on social media platforms.
Amjad Jilani
A digital marketing strategist who has lived in Mississauga for many years, Jilani’s campaign prioritizes fixing roads already existing within communities; he also seeks property tax freezes along with extended hours-until two A. M.-for community sports facilities aimed at youth engagement.
Mike Matulewicz
A retired police sergeant with an extensive career spanning thirty-four years at Toronto Police Service; Matulewicz has lived within Mississauga for forty years now-he plans initiatives centered around public safety alongside health improvement efforts while ensuring affordability across town options available today!
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Fadi Naami
Naami serves currently employed by Remax Realty specializing sales sector-his focus revolves around fostering safer neighborhoods whilst cleaning up local areas plus driving economic growth forward!
David Shaw
Shaw reported residing continuously since nineteen sixty-six within Cooksville area post-retirement where he spent thirty-eight years working fire protection service industry !
No public information surfaced concerning candidates Mohsin Khan or Ana Luisa Vasquez De Espinal ; attempts seeking their comments did not receive replies.Keep it Factual
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