The Ontario Liberal Party remains without a clear path forward on leadership, four months after Bonnie Crombie signalled her intention to step aside following a tepid leadership review, as a potential field of candidates begins to take shape behind the scenes.
Party president Kathryn McGarry says details of a leadership race are expected “in the next few weeks,” following consultations that showed strong support for online voting. While acknowledging growing impatience within party ranks, McGarry said there is no urgency comparable to past leadership transitions, as the Liberals are not currently replacing a sitting premier.
The party has faced prolonged leadership gaps before. After losing power in 2018, it took nearly two years to select Steven Del Duca, and Crombie herself was chosen 18 months after the 2022 election. The Liberals remain the third party at Queen’s Park, and Crombie does not hold a seat after losing to Progressive Conservative candidate Silvia Gualtieri in 2025.
Internal frustration is mounting, however. Senior party sources warn delays could push a leadership convention into 2027, citing concerns about overlapping municipal elections, limited volunteer capacity, and a shrinking campaign window. Some Liberals fear the party is missing an opportunity to challenge Premier Doug Ford’s majority government.
Despite the uncertainty, several names are circulating.
Federal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who finished second in the 2023 leadership race, is widely seen as a potential front-runner. In recent public comments, he has criticized the Ford government and signalled readiness to organize should a race be called, though his previous opposition to Crombie and strained relations within the party have drawn mixed reactions.
Other possible contenders include new MPPs Lee Fairclough and Rob Cerjanec, both of whom flipped previously Conservative-held ridings in the last provincial election. Fairclough said many party members want a leader who holds a seat in the legislature, while Cerjanec said there is strong appetite to choose a leader soon and begin rebuilding.
Former Liberal Party president Mike Crawley is also exploring a run, while health policy expert Andrew Boozary has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Kingston MPP Ted Hsu has ruled himself out, and Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji says he has not yet decided.
Federal MP Karina Gould, who had considered a move to provincial politics, has confirmed she will remain at the federal level.
Meanwhile, Progressive Conservatives are watching closely. One senior Tory cabinet minister, speaking privately, said the Liberals’ internal divisions work to the government’s advantage, noting the party must now rebuild from scratch after Crombie’s departure.
With no official timeline in place, the Ontario Liberals face mounting pressure to resolve their leadership uncertainty and position themselves for the next provincial election, expected in 2029 or 2030.