Alberta NDP Leader Nenshi Wins Seat in Provincial Byelection; Separatist Republican Leader Comes in Third in Rural Riding

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi speaks after being announced as the party's candidate for the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona, in Edmonton on Jan. 22, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi emerged victorious in one of three byelections in the province on June 23, securing a landslide win in Edmonton-Strathcona after a year of sitting on the sidelines.

Nenshi’s party colleague Gurtej Singh Brar won the Edmonton-Ellerslie race, while political newcomer Tara Sawyer successfully held onto the rural Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding for the UCPs in a race where the separatist Republican Party of Alberta took third place.

Results from Elections Alberta indicate Nenshi garnered 7,952 votes to win the seat previously held by his predecessor, former Alberta NDP leader and premier Rachel Notley. The riding has been an NDP stronghold since 1986.

The United Conservative Party’s Darby Crouch took second place with 1,314 votes, while the third place Liberal candidate Don Slater won 195 and Republican Party of Alberta hopeful Ravina Chand had 65.

Nenshi told supporters in a speech at an Edmonton hotel that voters had sent a “clear message” to the UCP by handing him more than 80 percent of the vote, saying his supporters want to see change in the province.

“Life in Alberta shouldn’t feel like a monthly test of survival,” Nenshi told supporters gathered at the hotel for a victory party. “You shouldn’t have to hold your breath every time you open your utility bill or worry if this is the month your rent or mortgage finally becomes unaffordable. You shouldn’t be choosing between groceries and gas.”

The former Calgary mayor said he and his party would also focus on jobs, accessible health care, and education.

Premier Danielle Smith took to social media to congratulate Nenshi on his victory.

“I look forward to constructive debate and, above all, working to advance Alberta’s interests: growing our economy, building critical infrastructure and securing a stronger future for all Albertans,” she wrote in a June 24 post.

Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills

Smith also congratulated Sawyer on her win in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills in a subsequent social media post.

“Tara ran a focused, grassroots campaign and will be a strong voice for rural Alberta in the legislature,” she wrote.

The Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency was formerly held by Nathan Cooper, a veteran member of the UCP legislature, who stepped down in the spring to become Alberta’s representative in Washington, D.C.

Sawyer took 9,363 of the 15,318 votes tallied, while NDP candidate Bev Toews came in second place with 3,061 votes, according to Elections Alberta. Republican Party of Alberta (RPA) leader Cam Davies was in third place with 2,705 votes.

The RPA was established in 2022 as the Buffalo Party of Alberta and officially adopted its current name in February when it shifted toward a separatist stance.

“Alberta is strong enough to stand on its own,” Davies said in a social media post to promote the party’s candidates. “We’re calling for a binding referendum on independence — because it’s time.”

Edmonton-Ellerslie

The closest race was in Edmonton-Ellerslie where the NDP’s Brar, a Punjabi-language broadcaster, beat out UCP candidate Naresh Bhardwaj by 1,088 votes. Bar had 4,327 votes to Bhardwaj’s 3,239.

The Liberals’ Manpreet Tiwana took third with 410 votes, while RPA candidate Fred Munn had 291.

Nenshi congratulated Brar during his victory speech, saying voters recognized Brar’s dedication to the riding.

“You didn’t just run an outstanding campaign, you spent your life leading in your community,” he said. “Edmonton-Ellerslie is about to get an extraordinary MLA.”

There were 46 UCP MLAs, 36 from the NDP, and two independents when the legislature adjourned in mid-June. The legislature is scheduled to reconvene for the fall sitting in the final week of October.