Nenshi wins Alberta NDP leadership vote in a landslide victory

Former Calgary mayor wins with a record 62,746 votes on the first ballot

Rachel Notley and Naheed Nenshi at the announcement of the NDP leadership vote results (source: Alberta NDP / YouTube)

Naheed Nenshi is the new leader of the Alberta NDP. The former Calgary mayor won with a huge landslide victory on the first ballot.

Here are the results of the NDP leadership vote:

1. Naheed Nenshi: 62,746 (86%)

2. Kathleen Ganley: 5,899 (8%)

3. Sarah Hoffman: 3,063 (4%)

4. Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse: 1,222 (2%)

Nenshi’s three-terms as mayor of Alberta’s largest city have made him one of the province’s most recognizable politicians. That name recognition and his history of electoral success in Calgary almost certainly helped carry him to his landslide first place finish in the race to replace Rachel Notley.

This might be the largest number of votes for a single candidate in any provincial party leadership race in Canada.

While Notley grew up in the NDP (her father, Grant Notley, was the party’s leader from 1968 to 1984), Nenshi’s short history with the party didn’t matter to most NDP members. NDP members wanted to choose a leader who they believe can defeat Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party in the next election.

This is a very significant changing of the guard in the Alberta NDP.

As I’ve written before, Notley led this party through a monumental time in its history, from fringe opposition to government and electoral relevance. For the past 10 years Notley has been the NDP’s greatest asset in Alberta.

Notley has been the face of the NDP in Alberta, and during her time as leader she has held rock solid discipline over the party and caucus. Even after the NDP’s defeats in the 2019 and 2023 elections, the party remained loyal to Notley, showing a deep respect from party members for what she had accomplished.

That’s why this leadership transition is so important for the NDP.

Nenshi is now leader of the NDP and its 38 MLA Official Opposition caucus in the Alberta Legislature. Because he isn’t currently an MLA, he’ll need to work with the caucus to determine who will take on leadership roles in the Legislature.

Smart money is in Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Rakhi Pancholi playing a central leadership role in Nenshi’s new team. Pancholi is a rising star in the NDP and dropped out of the leadership race to endorse Nenshi shortly after he announced his candidacy.