Politics & World • Municipal Politics

Brad Bradford

Brad Bradford is a Canadian municipal politician and urban planner who has represented Toronto’s Ward 19, Beaches–East York, on Toronto City Council since 2018.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brad Bradford is a Canadian municipal politician and urban planner who has represented Toronto’s Ward 19, Beaches–East York, on Toronto City Council since 2018. He was elected in 2018, re-elected in 2022, and ran in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election, placing eighth. In 2026, he registered as a candidate for mayor of Toronto.

Early life and career

Bradford is an urban planner by training and worked in Toronto’s planning environment before entering elected office. Public profiles describe him as having worked in the office of the City of Toronto’s chief planner before becoming a councillor.

Toronto City Council

Bradford was first elected to Toronto City Council in 2018 for Ward 19, Beaches–East York, and won re-election in 2022. He has remained a visible figure in debates over housing, transit, and city spending.

2023 mayoral by-election

In Toronto’s 2023 mayoral by-election, Bradford ran on a platform focused on accountability, housing delivery, and city finances. He finished eighth in a large field of candidates, with 9,254 votes.

2026 mayoral campaign

Bradford registered as a candidate for mayor in 2026 after earlier signalling plans to run again. Reporting in 2025 and 2026 described him as one of the more prominent challengers to incumbent mayor Olivia Chow.

Key facts

Brad Bradford has served as the councillor for Toronto’s Beaches–East York ward since 2018.
He was re-elected to Toronto City Council in the 2022 municipal election.
He placed eighth in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election with 9,254 votes.
He is trained as an urban planner and previously worked in municipal planning.
Bradford registered as a candidate for mayor of Toronto in 2026.

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Canadian context

Brad Bradford is a Toronto municipal politician, so his work is directly relevant to Canadian readers interested in local governance, housing, transit, and city finance in Canada’s largest city.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Brad Bradford?

Brad Bradford is a Toronto city councillor and urban planner who represents Ward 19, Beaches–East York.

When was Brad Bradford first elected?

He was first elected to Toronto City Council in 2018.

What ward does Brad Bradford represent?

He represents Ward 19, Beaches–East York.

Did Brad Bradford run for mayor of Toronto?

Yes. He ran in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election and registered to run again in 2026.

How did Brad Bradford do in the 2023 mayoral by-election?

He finished eighth and received 9,254 votes.

What was Brad Bradford’s profession before politics?

He worked as an urban planner before becoming a councillor.

References

City of Toronto — https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/members-of-council/councillor-ward-19/
Supports: Confirms that Brad Bradford is the City Councillor for Ward 19, Beaches–East York.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Bradford
Supports: Provides election history, 2023 mayoral by-election result, and 2026 mayoral candidacy details.
CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/brad-bradford-metro-morning-interview-1.6873787
Supports: States that Bradford is a former city planner and describes his political positions and 2023 mayoral campaign.
iPolitics — https://www.iPolitics.ca/2025/05/30/brad-bradford-to-run-for-mayor-of-toronto-again/
Supports: Reports on Bradford’s plans to run again for mayor and notes his background as an urban planner and councillor.
Brad Bradford — https://www.bradbradford.ca/
Supports: Confirms his current role as Toronto city councillor for Ward 19, Beaches–East York.