OFF TO THE RACES: The Alberta NDP Leadership Race Explained

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Alberta politics is always keeping us on our toes, and 2024 is shaping up to be no exception.

On January 16, 2024, Rachel Notley, the former Premier of Alberta and longtime leader of the Alberta NDP, announced she would step down as leader following an election this June.

This announcement didn't exactly catch the province off guard, given the UCP's landslide victory in 2019, followed by another in 2023, which made it clear that changes to the party's platform and structure were overdue.

When the Fall Session of the 31st Legislature adjourned in December 2023, Notley received a standing ovation from the legislature, alluding to the end of her tenure as leader.

About the Race

In terms of logistics, political parties in Alberta have a great deal of autonomy on how they choose party leaders. Except for registration and filing requirements with Elections Alberta and contribution limits outlined in the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, political parties make the rules, determine eligible candidates, and voting eligibility and procedures.

Timeline

According to the Alberta NDP Leadership Rules, the leadership race includes several important dates and deadlines.

Voting process and requirements

The voting process and requirements are outlined in the Alberta NDP Constitution and Leadership Rules established by the Provincial Council on January 27, 2024.

The nomination deadline for leadership candidates was March 15, 2024, and they must have been members since August 2024 to be eligible to run.

Members must be in good standing by April 22, 2024, and can vote by mail, online, or telephone.

The candidate with the fewest weighted votes will be removed from the ballot in as many rounds as necessary until one candidate receives 50 per cent plus one or more of the total weighted votes.

Candidates

The following contestants have met the nomination requirements set out in the Leadership Rules: 

• Rakhi Pancholi: Former candidate who announced the end of her campaign on March 26, 2024 to endorse Nenshi. 

Hon. Kathleen Ganley

MLA, Calgary-Mountain View

A lawyer by training, Kathleen Ganley has been the MLA for Calgary-Mountain View since 2019, and previously served as the Energy & Climate Critic from July 2023 up to the announcement of her leadership bid on February 5, 2024.

Ganley was first elected to the Legislature in the 2015 General Election in the riding of Calgary-Buffalo and has served in several positions, including Minister of Justice and Solicitor General and as the NDP Critic for Energy and Natural Gas.

For more information about her campaign, visit: teamganley.ca  

Hon. Sarah Hoffman

MLA, Edmonton-Glenora

Sarah Hoffman has served as the MLA for Edmonton-Glenora since 2015 and as the Deputy Leader since 2016. She previously served as the Assistant Whip and Municipal Affairs Critic (Edmonton and Calgary) from July 2023 up to the announcement of her leadership bid on February 10, 2024. 

Prior to her current role, she served as the Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Seniors, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, and Education Critic.

Before entering provincial politics, she served as a trustee and chair to the Edmonton Public School Board from 2010 to 2015.

For more information about her campaign, visit: sarahoffman.ca

Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse

MLA, Edmonton-Rutherford

Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse has served as the MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford since May 2023 and was the Environment, Parks and Climate Resilience Critic from July 2023 up to the announcement of her leadership bid on February 24, 2024.

Before entering politics, she worked in the media production and broadcasting industry, founding Miyo-Pimatisiwin Productions and producing the award-winning Indigenous radio program, Acimowin.

For more information about her campaign, visit: jodistonehouse.ca

Gil McGowan

President of the Alberta Federation of Labour

Gil McGowan has served as the President of the Alberta Federation of Labour ("AFL"), Alberta's largest union advocacy organization, for nearly two decades. He announced his leadership bid on March 7, 2024.

For more information about his campaign, visit: Gil McGowan

Naheed Nenshi

Former Mayor of Calgary

Naheed Nenshi served as the Mayor of Calgary for three consecutive terms, from 2010 to 2021, and before entering politics, he was a professor of nonprofit management at Mount Royal University and a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. He was the last candidate to announce his bid for leadership on March 11, 2024.

For more information about his campaign, visit: nenshi.ca

Key Takeaways

If you only take three things away from this leadership race, make sure it's these three points:

Paying attention today will matter tomorrow

This leadership contest has big stakes for Alberta, regardless of your allegiance to the NDP.

With conservatives in the province not having faced a leader other than Notley in over a decade, new leadership could disrupt established campaign strategies and dynamics, potentially reshaping the province's political landscape. Having a fresh face at the helm of the opposition could also help attract a different demographic of voters, prompting the UCP to reevaluate its policies and direction.

Additionally, if the new leader of the Alberta NDP manages to rally enough support and the UCP encounters setbacks before the next general election, this contest could be the deciding factor in determining Alberta's next Premier and reshaping the province for years to come.

Nenshi is a force to be...recognized

Nenshi has become one of the central topics dominating the leadership discourse. He was the final candidate to announce his leadership bid, and at first, it was unclear how Albertans would respond. However, after the first week of announcing his candidacy, the party membership nearly doubled and has garnered support from all quadrants of the province. 

Experts are already predicting a Nenshi win which could be a cause of concern for Smith and the UCP especially after losing 11 seats in the 2023 general election including their sole seat in the Edmonton region.

As the race progresses and the debates heat up, Nenshi will be one to watch. 

Rural appeal will set the course

With membership sales coming to a close, candidates will begin pitching their party platforms to try to woo voters in the three upcoming leadership debates.

It is noteworthy to pay attention to how rural voters are targeted in their platforms because while the NDP has dominated urban centres, they have struggled to gain rural strongholds, which will be a determinant of future party growth. 

Connecting with rural voters and appealing to their concerns will be crucial not only throughout the debates but also in setting the direction for the party's rural appeal.

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