Mississauga, Canada: A recent poll conducted by Mainstreet Research suggests that Mississauga’s mayoral race is shaping up to be a tight contest, with frontrunner Carolyn Parrish facing a significant challenge from other leading candidates in the final stretch before the June 10 election.
According to the poll, Parrish currently holds 21 percent support among decided and leaning voters, putting her just one point ahead of Dipika Damerla, who sits at 20 percent support. Alvin Tedjo follows closely behind at 17 percent, with Stephen Dasko at 15 percent and Brian Crombie at four percent.
With five percent of respondents expressing support for other candidates and 18 percent remain undecided, the race appears to be highly competitive and unpredictable.
The poll surveyed 1,176 Mississauga voters from June 3-4 using automated telephone interviews, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Mainstreet Research President Quito Maggi noted that the narrowing gap between candidates suggests that Monday’s election could be a closely contested affair, with Parrish’s early lead diminishing over the past few weeks.
Parrish’s campaign faced criticism for remarks made on transgender bathrooms and federal refugee programs following an early debate, leading to concerns about her electability. Despite this, she remains a formidable contender, particularly among older voters and those who have already cast their ballots.
In addition to voting intention, the poll also sought voters’ opinions on candidates’ suitability for addressing key issues facing Mississauga. Tedjo garnered the most support (22 percent) for building more housing, while Parrish and Damerla each received 18 percent. Dasko led with 21 percent on job creation, while Parrish led on transit issues with 18 percent support.
As Mississauga residents prepare to head to the polls on Monday, the outcome of the byelection to replace former Mayor Bonnie Crombie remains uncertain, with each candidate vying to shape the future direction of the city.
