A heated mayoral race is shaping up in Mississauga, where observers could be forgiven for thinking it bares some resemblance to a telenovela. Here’s what you need to know. Who’s running for mayor in Mississauga? To understand the players, one has to back up a little bit to 2024. After holding the mayor’s office for 10 years, Bonnie Croimbie stepped down from the role after winning the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. In the wake of Crombie’s departure, longtime councillor Carolyn Parrish won a byelection to replace her. Months after losing the provincial election in February 2025, Crombie said she would step down as leader of the party. She announced this past summer that she would run to get her old job back as mayor of Mississauga. However Parrish, the now-incumbent mayor, is running to hold onto her job. The 80-year-old is seeking a second term. In total, there are 14 candidates running for mayor. Among them, other frontrunners include Ward 2 councillor Alvin Tedjo and Ward 7 councillor Dipika Damerla. Sparks fly between frontrunners There was no love lost between Crombie and Parrish at a recent mayoral debate, where voices were raised, eyes rolled and insults flew. Parrish referred to Crombie as “the blond bombshell” and claimed staff were “terrified” she would return. Crombie retorted staff were in fact terrified of Parrish and accused her of sitting in her office rather than going out to do the job of mayor. What are the issues Affordability and taxes With the rising cost of living, affordability is a major issue for voters. Crombie is promising to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation. Parrish has said she would keep the increases near the rate of inflation. Meanwhile, Tedjo has promised a residential property tax freeze for at least two years, along with a permanent property tax freeze for qualifying seniors. Damerla is promising to freeze the city-controlled share of residential property taxes for 2027. Transit Transit has come up as an issue in the election so far, with Crombie promising to extend the TTC’s Line 2 into Mississauga from Toronto if elected. Tedjo has said that a strong relationship with the province needs to come before a plan, since they will likely need to fund any project. Meanwhile, Damerla has called for the existing Lake Shore GO line to be converted into a de facto surface subway by adding more stations in Mississauga. Trade war The ongoing trade war with the U.S. has also come up in the campaign so far. Parrish has floated the idea of property tax subsidy or holiday for small businesses affected by tariffs. Crombie has called for interest-free property tax deferrals on the city portion of qualifying commercial and industrial taxes for businesses hit by tariffs. Why the election matters Mississauga’s next mayor will be at the helm during a time of continued growth and uncertainty. With U.S. tariffs continuing to threaten the economy, Mississauga’s next mayor will have to be creative to help the city navigate its challenges. The next mayor will also have to be good at working with other levels of government, including that of Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney, if they hope to attract money for transit, stimulus programs and infrastructure. How do I vote in the Mississauga election? You can cast a ballot during advance voting, which runs through Oct. 11. You can also cast a ballot on Election Day, Oct. 26. You can find full details on voting in the Mississauga election on the city’s website. For a more detailed view of each candidate’s plans, visit their websites. Bonnie Croimbie Dipika Damerla Carolyn Parrish Alvin Tedjo - With files from Jermaine Wilson
