Doug Ford’s third consecutive Ontario election win isn’t luck—it’s built on suburban resentment, populist spectacle, and his family’s calculated mythology.

Doug Ford winning his third straight election in Ontario is no accident. His ongoing political success isn’t merely the story of a fortunate figure stumbling through conservative politics—it’s the deliberate endpoint of a decades-long project rooted deeply in suburban grievance politics, aspirational consumerism, and working-class anti-elitism.

To understand Doug Ford, one must understand his late brother, Rob Ford. Rob’s chaotic tenure as Toronto’s mayor laid the foundation for a unique political brand. The Ford brothers thrived not on coherent policy or ideology, but on scandal, spectacle, and populist narratives that voters repeatedly embraced. Rob’s personal struggles—infamously marked by drug scandals and public meltdowns—paradoxically reinforced his populist appeal, branding him as a flawed yet relatable figure.

Robin Doolittle’s book, Crazy Town, ostensibly about Rob Ford, captures the essence of this political phenomenon. It describes how Rob didn’t just promise effective governance; he offered constituents the fantasy of personal access to power. Ford portrayed himself as the people’s advocate, willing to break bureaucratic rules and confront city workers directly on behalf of constituents. This created an illusion of authentic, direct democracy in action, a stark contrast to impersonal political norms.

Doug Ford capitalized brilliantly on this foundation. Where Rob was impulsive and scandal-prone, Doug managed the public image meticulously, often stepping in during Rob’s meltdowns to maintain control of their political narrative. If Rob was pure id, Doug was the superego, carefully directing the drama that kept their brand compelling.

Critically, Doug Ford’s “everyman” image—depicting himself as a suburban dad and pragmatic businessman—only works in contrast to Rob’s turbulent history. Without Rob’s scandals to differentiate himself, Doug would appear as merely another standard conservative politician. Rob’s chaotic legacy thus transformed Doug into the “responsible one,” enabling him to retain populist credibility while claiming competence and stability.

Yet the Ford family’s narrative as political outsiders is fundamentally misleading. Their father, Doug Ford Sr., served as a Progressive Conservative MPP in the 1990s, and their family business, Deco Labels, prospered through government contracts. The Fords are as politically connected as any established dynasty, like the Trudeaus. Still, their strategic performance of outsider status resonates deeply with suburban voters resentful of perceived elites.

Doug Ford’s third victory underscores not his competence or popular policies, but the resilience of the Ford political mythology. This mythology positions Doug as the champion of ordinary citizens against downtown elites, despite his actions often favoring established interests.

Ultimately, Doug Ford’s continued electoral success demonstrates the power of narrative over policy or performance. Until Ontario’s opposition crafts a story more compelling than the anti-hero Ford mythology, Doug Ford is likely to keep winning. Love him or loathe him, he remains the protagonist—the main character in a political drama Ontario voters find irresistible.