The 2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election is an ongoing leadership contest of the Ontario Liberal Party to be concluded on November 21, 2026 through which the party will elect its twenty-fifth permanent leader. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Bonnie Crombie, the incumbent party leader since December 2023, and is the party's third leadership contest since it was voted out of power in the 2018 election.
Voting for the contest will be conducted from November 9 to 20, and the new leader will be revealed on November 21, 2026.[1]
Background
Following an extended period of electoral success under the leadership of premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne between 2003 and 2018, the Ontario Liberal Party experienced its worst electoral outcome since Confederation in the 2018 election. The party won less than 20% of the popular vote, and fell to seven seats, losing official party status in the legislature. Accepting responsibility for the party's historic defeat, Wynne resigned as party leader on election night.[2]
The party's two subsequent leaders, Steven Del Duca and Bonnie Crombie, were not sitting MPPs when they were elected leaders respectively in 2020 and 2023. Under their leadership, the party regained four percentage points and six percentage points of popular vote respectively in the 2022 and 2025 elections, and regained official party status following the 2025 election. However, neither were able to significantly improve the party's electoral fortunes, nor to secure a seat for themselves.
The party held a mandatory leadership review[3] vote during its 2025 annual meeting held from September 12 to 14, during which Crombie secured only 57% approval from party delegates.[4] Following the results announcement, she initially stated that she would remain leader and fight the next provincial election during her closing address to the assembled delegates, but announced later on the same day her intention to resign following meetings with the party's caucus and executive council.[5] She had initially announced that she would remain as leader until her successor was elected, but ultimately resigned from the position on January 14, 2026.[6] Following Crombie's formal resignation, John Fraser, the most senior caucus member and the party's parliamentary leader since 2018, was selected as interim leader. Fraser had previously been interim leader on two occasions, from 2018 to 2020 and 2022 to 2023.[7]
Rules and procedures
The rules and procedures of this leadership contest are primarily prescribed in three sources:
the party's Constitution, in particular article 9 (Leadership contest & Review) which was substantially amended in 2023[8]
the party's Rules of Procedure, in particular chapter 8 (Leadership contest rules) which was specifically enacted by the party's executive council for this contest on February 7, 2026[9]
the Election Finances Act of Ontario, on matters relating to registration, financial reporting, and donation limits[10]
The Ontario Liberal Party amended its constitution in March 2023 and ended the election of its leader through leadership convention, the last political party of significance in Canada to do so.[11] Similar to the 2023 contest, all party members as of a membership cutoff date would be eligible to vote directly for leader by preferential ballot.[12] The membership cutoff date for this contest is September 7, 2026.[13] Unlike the 2023 contest however, the voting for this contest will be conducted online.[14]
Votes are tallied based on which provincial electoral district the voting members in, with each electoral district being allocated 100 points, and with points in a district allocated in proportion to each candidate by the number of first preference votes received from members residing in the electoral district.[15] Each of the party's recognized student clubs will be allocated 50 points, and each of the party's recognized women's clubs will be allocated 5 points.[16][17]
When the ballots are counted, if no candidate receives 50 per cent of the points, the lowest-ranked candidate will be dropped from the next round, with their second choice votes distributed to the remaining candidates. This will continue until a candidate receives 50 per cent of the vote.[18]
Timeline
2025
February 27 – Ontario general election held, resulting in a third consecutive majority PC government. The Liberals win 14 seats, obtaining official party status. Bonnie Crombie failed to win her own seat, but announced her intention to continue as leader in her concession speech.
September 14 – At the Ontario Liberal Party Annual General Meeting, 57% of delegates voted against holding a leadership contest. Crombie announced during a speech to delegates after the results were announced that she would remain as leader. However, several hours later, after meeting with the party executive, she announced her intention to resign as leader once a leadership election is held to choose her successor.[19][20]
September 28 — The party's executive council approved the creation of a Leadership Vote Committee chaired by party treasurer Gabriel Sékaly and including party president Kathryn McGarry to "consult with members, research best practices and provide recommendations" for the upcoming leadership election.[4][21]
January 19 — John Fraser who previously served as interim leader from 2018-2020 and 2022-2023, is nominated by the Ontario Liberal caucus to serve as interim leader.[23]
January 22 — Party's executive council, riding association presidents and caucus formally confirm selection of Fraser as interim leader.[24][25]
February 7 — Party president Kathryn McGarry announces details for the leadership vote, including the voting dates, entrance fee and timeline.[26][27][1]
Andrew Boozary, physician, executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine[28][42]
Mike Crawley, president of the Liberal Party of Canada (2012—2014), CEO of AIM PowerGen Corporation (2002—2009), CEO of Northland Power (2018—2024)[43][31][44]
John Fraser, Interim Leader (2018–2020, 2022–2023, 2026), Parliamentary Leader (2018–present), MPP for Ottawa South (2013–present)[28]
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