1935 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 1, 1935. James Simpson won a surprise victory in the mayoral campaign to become the first socialist candidate elected to the office.

Incumbent William James Stewart chose not to run for reelection. The race to succeed him became focused on two candidates. James Simpson, known as "People's Jimmy" was a long serving member of the Board of Control and former vice-president of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. He was an active member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and a self-described socialist. Simpson was strongly opposed by many religious leaders, former mayor Stewart, and three of the four daily newspapers. Only the Toronto Daily Star endorsed his run. The other three papers endorsed Alderman Harry W. Hunt who finished a close second. Also running were controller J. George Ramsden and communist Reverend A.E. Smith, but they finished considerably back.

Results: James Simpson - 54,400; Harry W. Hunt - 50,986; J. George Ramsden - 16,851; A.E. Smith - 4,760

Incumbent Sam McBride and William D. Robbins won reelection to the Board of Control. As Simpson and Ramsden chose to run for mayor, this left two vacancies on the board. These were filled by Alderman Ralph Day and former alderman William J. Wadsworth. Finishing further back were two ex-controllers, Claude Pierce and A.E. Hacker. Also running were social activist Adelaide Plumptre and Communist leader Tim Buck. Alderman George Duthie was also a candidate but withdrew

Results: Sam McBride (incumbent) - 71,177; William J. Wadsworth - 58,783; William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 44,820; Ralph Day - 41,515; Claude Pearce - 34,064; Adelaide Plumptre - 32,872; A.E Hacker - 29,110; Frank Regan - 26,242; Tim Buck - 9,938

Ward 1 (Riverdale): Frank M. Johnston (incumbent) - 7,412; W.A. Summerville - 5,171; Gordon Millen - 4,682; Zeph Hilton - 3,736; Clifford Lock - 1,686; David Spencer - 881; Thomas Cooney - 858

Ward 2 (Cabbagetown and Rosedale): Harry Gladstone Clarke (incumbent) - 6,082; John R. Beamish (incumbent) - 4,738; William Dennison - 2,659; Percy Bishop - 2348; Thomas James - 465

Ward 3 (Central Business District): John Laidlaw (incumbent) - 2,990; John S. Simmons - 2,334; Arnold Ferguson - 1,980; Albert Kinnear - 1,696; Fred Ross - 925; Alfred Burgess - 490; C.A. Risk - 457; Abraham Golberg - 294; Joseph Kent - 290

Ward 4 (Kensington Market and Garment District): Robert Hood Saunders - 4,779; Nathan Phillips (incumbent) - 4,691; H.M. Goodman - 2,293; Ida Siegel - 2,130; Myer Klig - 1,068; Max Federman - 552; Max Orenstein - 534; S.C. Schiller - 419

Ward 5 (Trinity-Bellwoods): Fred Hamilton (incumbent) - 6,483; Robert Leslie - 5,931; Harold Menzies - 3,091; Thomas Black - 2,907; Stewart Smith - 1,871; James Conner - 1,576; Charles Kerr - 1,045; Albert Plenty - 499

Ward 6 (Davenport and Parkdale): Frederick J. Conboy - 12,961; D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 9,015; Harold Tracy - 6,530; Robert Stanley - 3,714; Harry Stephenson - 1,575; George Granell - 600; Bertram Tipping - 475

Ward 7 (West Toronto Junction): George H. Gardiner (incumbent) - 7,217; Frank Whetter (incumbent) - 5,698; Harry Wynn - 3,267; John McPhee - 1,594

Ward 8 (East Toronto): Ernest Bray (incumbent) - 9,603; Walter Howell - 8,537; Albert Burnese - 4,548; Robert Baker - 4,399; David MacKay - 878; David Weir - 763; Alfred Hambleton - 445

Ward 9 (North Toronto): William D. Ellis (incumbent) - 8,224; Douglas McNish - 5,435; Herbert Ball - 4,456; John Innes - 3,546; Charles Reeves - 1,646; Walter Wilkinson - 1,689; John McGonnell - 453

Results taken from the January 2, 1935 Toronto Star and might not exactly match final tallies. Ward 3 and 6 results taken from the January 2, 1935 Toronto Telegram.

Election Coverage. Toronto Star. January 2, 1935

1935 Toronto municipal election

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Toronto mayor

Board of Control

City council

References