Erskine-Smith could also accept the loss in Scarborough and launch a campaign for the provincial Liberal leadership anyway; he previously lost a leadership bid to Bonnie Crombie, who subsequently lost the 2025 election to Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives. But Erskine-Smith had been clear that getting the local nomination, and winning a byelection that is expected to be called this summer, were important first steps in a potential leadership bid, because they would have ensured that he wouldn’t have been on the sidelines of the provincial legislature, as has been the case for both permanent Liberal leaders — Crombie and Steven Del Duca —  since Ford defeated Kathleen Wynne in 2018.