With Toronto’s next mayoral election just 11 months away, a new political survey is probing how voters feel about the possible return of former mayor John Tory — and whether his 2023 scandal still defines him. TorontoToday obtained the Campaign Research poll, commissioned by the firm run by longtime Conservative strategist Nick Kouvalis, a political figure who advised both Premier Doug Ford and Tory himself.
The survey directly confronts the controversy that ended Tory’s third term: his romantic relationship with a staff member 37 years his junior, a revelation that prompted him to resign only months after winning re-election. The poll asks whether voters believe Tory made the right choice by stepping down, whether the affair remains relevant today, and whether he is “too old” at 71 to run again. One of the questions bluntly suggests that some Toronto residents think he belongs to “a different generation of ideas and government.”
Though Tory has not confirmed any political ambitions, he has also not ruled out challenging Mayor Olivia Chow in 2026 — a move that would immediately become the defining storyline of the race. The survey asks respondents to compare Chow, Tory and declared candidate Brad Bradford on their ability to handle some of the city’s biggest issues, from crime and taxes to bike lanes and infrastructure.
Campaign Research’s questionnaire also expands beyond leadership qualities, testing which issues resonate most with voters. It presents a long list of topics — including reducing traffic congestion, cutting waste at City Hall, lowering taxes, investing in underserved neighbourhoods, hiring more police officers, expanding the Billy Bishop Airport runway, and addressing protests targeting Jewish communities — to assess what Torontonians want the next mayor to prioritize.
The poll further asks how strongly voters feel about contentious debates, such as safe consumption sites and federal carbon taxes. While the questions were reviewed by TorontoToday, the survey’s results were not provided.
Kouvalis, known for his outspoken political style and previous work on Tory’s mayoral campaigns in 2014 and 2018, did not respond to inquiries about whether the former mayor authorized the poll. Tory also did not respond to attempts to reach him.
Campaign Research has a long history in Toronto politics, including helping elect Rob Ford in 2010. Whether this latest poll signals the beginning of a Tory comeback effort remains unclear — but it confirms that the question is already shaping Toronto’s 2026 mayoral race.
The city heads to the polls on October 26, 2026.