After weeks of speculation, former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi entered the NDP leadership race on Monday, signalling a new phase of the contest.
But while experts and insiders say the party has made significant strides in the last decade — growing from just four MLAs after the 2012 election to their current high of 38 — they face a difficult task replacing an icon of Alberta politics.
“The NDP as it stands today, and frankly the Alberta political landscape, is what it is to a significant degree because of Rachel Notley,” said Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University.
Candidates declared
On Jan. 16, Notley announced she would be stepping down as leader of the official opposition party after succumbing to the UCP in Alberta’s 2023 provincial election. Since then, members of the NDP have begun expressing interest in taking up the leadership position.
Candidates have until this Friday, March 15 to declare their candidacy. Including Nenshi, six people have entered the race so far: Rakhi Pancholi of Edmonton-Whitemud, Sarah Hoffman of Edmonton-Glenora, Kathleen Ganley of Calgary-Mountain View, and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse of Edmonton-Rutherford. Union leader Gil McGowan confirmed his candidacy Thursday on Twitter.
Candidates only have until April 22 to sell memberships which leaves the campaigns roughly six weeks to sign-up their people. The vote takes place on June 22.
With Notley losing the last two elections, Williams said the party may have more success with a new leader. She noted it will be tough to replace such a charismatic trailblazer.
“It certainly suggests that the NDP might have a better chance with a new leader,” said Williams. “On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine a leader that would have her political savvy, somebody with her appeal, her abilities to connect in all kinds of ways with ordinary Albertans.”
Change in party name
One issue that continues to divide the party is its relationship with Jagmeet Singh’s federal NDP.
Last fall, some party members lobbied for a complete name change and rebrand before the next election. None of the leadership candidates has gone that far, but Ganley has signalled her openness to breaking with the federal party, who are seen as an electoral drag in Alberta.
Looking ahead
NDP Calgary-Buffalo MLA Joe Ceci said he was saddened to hear Notley was stepping down. He said she has been a main contributor to the party’s growth over the years.
With the next provincial election not for another three years, Ceci said the party has a good foundation to build off.
“We will put a new leader in place by beginning this summer and that leader will have more than a couple years to work with the higher caucus,” he said. “We’ve got a great base in place as a result of Rachel’s work.”
Ceci said qualities of teamwork and the ability to connect with Albertans will be critical for whoever takes up the leadership position. Whoever is elected leader, Ceci said they’ll be focussed on maintaining public services, especially in healthcare, where the UCP have made big promises.
“They’ve been creating a negative culture between government and healthcare workers across this province, and we see those in news reports daily,” he said.
Alberta’s next provincial election will be held in 2027, providing the new leader time to build connections and pave a path forward for the NDP.
“The new leader will have big shoes to fill but I’m sure they will be able to do that,” said Ceci.
According to the NDP leadership rules, members will be mailed their ballots by June 3. All votes must be received either online or by phone by noon June 22.
The leadership rules state “Every resident of Alberta who is 14 years of age or older and agrees to abide by the Constitution and principles of the Party, and who is not a member or supporter of another political party, shall be eligible to apply for membership in the Party.”
