Bonnie Crombie has asked the Ontario Liberal party to launch a leadership vote and says she will resign as leader once her successor is chosen after a disappointing review of her time at the helm.

The decision to step down came hours after Ontario Liberals reluctantly agreed to keep her on as leader.

The results of the vote, announced Sunday at a downtown Toronto hotel, were 57 per cent against holding a leadership contest and 43 per cent in favour of having one.

While Ms. Crombie initially said she would stay on, her office released a statement later on Sunday saying she intends to step down once a new leader is chosen.

“Even though I received a majority of support from the delegates, I believe it is the best decision for the Ontario Liberal Party to facilitate an orderly transition towards a leadership vote. I have advised the party president of my decision to resign upon the selection of my successor,” Ms. Crombie said in a statement.

While Ms. Crombie technically cleared the threshold required to remain leader, the result was short of the two-thirds level of support some said Ms. Crombie would need to hold the confidence of the party.