The 2010 Toronto mayoral election was held on October 25, 2010 to elect a mayor of the City of Toronto, Canada. The mayor's seat was open for the first time since the 2003 Toronto election due to the announcement by incumbent mayor David Miller that he will not seek a third term in office. The nomination period for the 2010 municipal election opened on January 4, 2010 and closed on September 10, 2010 with Rob Ford winning 47% of the vote.
In the 2006 Toronto election, David Miller was easily reelected as mayor, winning 57% of the vote and leading in 42 of the city's 44 wards. On September 25, 2009 Miller announced that he would not be running for re-election. Prior to Miller's announcement important figures had already been contemplating mayoral bids, most notably Deputy Premier George Smitherman and former mayoral candidate and Progressive Conservative leader John Tory. Miller's withdrawal created an open race and the possibility of a wide field of candidates contesting the position.
Several issues emerged early in the campaign. Transportation was one issue with debates over cycling and public transit. Bike lanes on streets such as Jarvis Street and University Avenue were one issue. Rocco Rossi was strongly opposed to such bike lanes (insisting that bike lanes instead be placed on parallel sideroads) while Pantalone supported them, Mammoliti endorsed the bike lanes on Jarvis, and Ford stated he would not remove any such installations. The debate over public transit focused on Mayor Miller's Transit City initiative.
There were six "major" candidates running who were included by the media in public opinion polls and mayoral debates during the campaign, although by election day only three remained as active contenders: Ward 2 councillor Rob Ford, Deputy Mayor and Ward 19 councillor Joe Pantalone and former Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman.
Giorgio Mammoliti was also included in debates until his withdrawal from the contest. Magazine editor Sarah Thomson announced on September 28, 2010 that she was ending her campaign, and former Liberal fundraiser Rocco Rossi dropped out of the campaign on October 13, 2010. Due to their late withdrawal, Thomson's and Rossi's names remained on the ballot.