The Ontario Liberal Party has announced that it will hold a leadership election on November 21, which marks its third leadership race since 2020. This decision is expected to invigorate the party and unify its members, as stated by party president Kathryn McGarry.

The leadership contest comes in the wake of Bonnie Crombie's resignation earlier this year. Crombie had led the party back to official status and increased its seat count during last year's snap election; however, she did not secure her own seat, and despite the party receiving nearly 600,000 more votes than the New Democratic Party (NDP), it did not manage to become the Official Opposition.

Several politicians, both at the provincial and federal levels, are contemplating their bids to lead the party. Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who was the runner-up in the 2023 leadership race, has hinted that he will enter the fray once again. Additionally, he intends to seek the provincial party’s nomination for an upcoming byelection in the Toronto riding of Scarborough Southwest.

Other potential candidates emerging include Ontario Liberal caucus members Lee Fairclough, Adil Shamji, and Rob Cerjanec, all of whom are considering joining the leadership race. Furthermore, former Liberal party president Mike Crawley and housing advocate Eric Lombardi are also contemplating a run for the leadership position.

Interested candidates have until July 31 at 5 p.m. to submit their nomination papers. Once the candidates are confirmed, party members will cast their votes electronically between November 9 and November 20, utilizing a ranked ballot system to determine the new leader.

This leadership race presents a significant opportunity for the Ontario Liberal Party to rally its members and rebuild its platform as it seeks to regain its footing in the province's political landscape.