Sunday March 2, 2025

Mohamed Firin (top), Faisal Hassan (bottom left), and Sarah Jama (bottom right) – key Somali-Canadian candidates in the 2025 Ontario provincial election, reflecting both gains and setbacks in their respective races.

TORONTO, Canada (HOL) — The 2025 Ontario provincial election was a turning point for Somali-Canadian political representation, revealing both growing influence and internal divisions. In York South–Weston, Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Mohamed Firin narrowly secured victory over Faisal Hassan, the former NDP MPP. Meanwhile, in Hamilton Centre, former NDP MPP Sarah Jama, running as an independent, saw her support collapse after losing party backing. These results highlight the challenges of maintaining electoral success amid shifting loyalties and intra-community competition.

York South–Weston: A Political Realignment

For the Somali-Canadian community, the contest between Firin and Hassan split traditional voting blocs, demonstrating that Somali-Canadians are no longer a uniform voting entity. 

Firin’s victory in York South–Weston was one of the most tightly contested races in the election. He won 11,143 votes (35.2%), edging out Liberal Daniel Di Giorgio, who received 10,999 votes (34.7%). Hassan, a former MPP running under the NDP banner, saw his vote share decline to 8,101 votes (25.6%), marking a dramatic shift from his previous victories. The result marked the second consecutive PC win in the riding, reflecting a growing departure from its historically NDP-Liberal stronghold.

The outcome also signals a broader realignment of political preferences in York South–Weston, a riding historically known for its working-class and immigrant electorate. Once considered safe ground for the NDP and Liberals, the district has now seen back-to-back PC victories, first under Michael Ford in 2022 and now under Firin in 2025. The shift highlights an emerging conservative-leaning segment among ethnic minorities, particularly those prioritizing economic stability, crime prevention, and local development over traditional party loyalties.

A key factor in Firin’s success was his ability to tap into disillusionment with the NDP and Liberal parties, both of which have struggled to maintain voter confidence in the riding. Firin capitalized on newly engaged Somali-Canadian voters looking for direct ties to the governing party. The Liberals’ resurgence under Di Giorgio nearly flipped the seat back into their column, indicating that left-leaning voters are still active but increasingly divided. Hassan, once a formidable force, found himself caught in the middle—unable to counter Firin’s law-and-order and economic investment messaging, while simultaneously losing ground to the Liberals’ renewed push.

The growing diversity in political preferences suggests that Somali-Canadian representation in Ontario politics is evolving from party loyalty to issue-based advocacy.

Hamilton Centre: Jama’s Struggles as an Independent

Once a dominant force in Hamilton Centre, Jama was unable to replicate her 2023 by-election success. Robin Lennox of the NDP retained the seat with 12,801 votes (38.4%), while Jama, running without the backing of a major party, managed only 4,962 votes (14.9%), placing fourth.

Jama’s campaign faced multiple challenges, chief among them the loss of party infrastructure and resources that had previously propelled her to victory. Without the NDP’s established voter outreach, financial backing, and organizational support, her campaign struggled to reach beyond her core base of progressive activists. Additionally, her expulsion from the NDP in 2023 following comments about international conflicts alienated some voters who viewed her as too controversial. This issue dominated her candidacy, overshadowing discussions about her platform, which emphasized public healthcare, housing affordability, disability rights, and education.

Despite strong grassroots mobilization, Jama faced stiff opposition from Lennox, who successfully retained the support of long-time NDP voters and union-backed constituents. The presence of a strong Liberal candidate also contributed to her poor showing, as centrist and left-leaning voters who might have considered her bid instead opted for more established parties. Her drop from a decisive 57.3% victory in 2023 to just 14.9% in 2025 was a stark indicator of how crucial party support is in Ontario’s political landscape. Jama’s support base—largely younger, activist-driven voters—proved too narrow to sustain her candidacy.