A recent survey ahead of Monday’s municipal election in Mississauga shows Bonnie Crombie leading the mayoral race with 35% support among decided and leaning voters. Alvin Tedjo follows at 31%, and the incumbent Carolyn Parrish at 28%, according to a Liaison Strategies Mississauga Tracker survey. Dipika Damerla is at four percent, while two percent are backing another candidate.
David Valentin from Liaison Strategies described the race as very close, indicating that any of the top three candidates could potentially win on election day. The survey, conducted from October 19 to October 20 among 1,000 Mississauga residents, revealed shifting voter preferences. Damerla experienced a significant drop in support, while Crombie and Tedjo each gained five points.
Valentin attributed the shifts in support to campaign dynamics, highlighting Damerla’s decline following criticisms of Tedjo’s policies and Parrish’s negative remarks about Crombie. The expert noted that Tedjo has seen substantial growth in popularity over the summer.
According to Myer Siemiatycki, a politics and public administration professor, the election features a tight three-way race, with all candidates having a shot at winning. Advanced voter turnout in Mississauga has hit a record high, with over 44,000 votes cast early, marking a significant increase from the last municipal election.
Siemiatycki and Valentin cautioned against drawing conclusions solely based on early voter turnout, as it may not necessarily translate to higher overall participation. Brampton also reported a rise in early voting, albeit less dramatic than in Mississauga, reflecting the intense competition in the mayoral race.