Ajax MPP drops out of Ontario Liberal leadership race

Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec speaks during Question Period at Queen's Park in Toronto on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Ontario Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec has dropped his bid to become the next leader of the party.

In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, Cerjanec, who represents the riding of Ajax, said he made the “difficult decision” to suspend his campaign following “considerable reflection and conversations” with his family and supporters.

The rookie legislator entered the leadership race in May with a pledge to rebuild the party and campaign on affordability measures and improving the education and health-care systems.

In his Sunday statement, Cerjanec said he entered the race because he believed that Ontarians “deserved a government that can create opportunity, strengthen public services and help people get ahead.”

“To everyone who volunteered, donated, encouraged me and believed in this campaign: thank you. Your confidence has been deeply humbling. This campaign is ending but the work that inspired it will continue,” he said.

There are four remaining leadership candidates: former MP Navdeep Bains, Toronto MPP Lee Fairclough, housing advocate Eric Lombardi and former political staffer Dylan Marando.

Party members will vote between Nov. 9 and 20 and the next leader will be announced on Nov. 21.

With files from The Canadian Press