Rob Ford Drops Out Of Toronto Mayor's Race, Brother Doug Ford To Run In His Place

Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dropped out of the mayor’s race Friday, citing medical reasons. Ford was diagnosed with a tumor near his abdomen this week. Doug Ford, a Toronto city councillor and the mayor's brother, will run in his place, according to the Associated Press.

Rob Ford became an international media sensation last year after the Toronto Star obtained a video purportedly showing the Toronto mayor smoking crack. After months of denials, Ford admitted to smoking crack “in a drunken stupor.” Instead of heeding calls to resign, Ford checked into rehab. He got back to work in late June.

A poll released earlier this week showed Ford in second place behind Toronto businessman John Tory, 40 percent to 28 percent, according to the Star. Ford has been continually mocked since the crack-smoking allegations surfaced. He also raised eyebrows for using crude remarks to refer to a staffer who claimed the Toronto mayor wanted to perform oral sex on her and for running into a female legislator during a debate at Toronto City Hall late last year. Video of the incident was set to “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus on YouTube, which you can watch below: