New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership elections

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The New Democratic Party of Manitoba has held seven leadership conventions to select a party leader since its founding in 1961. In each instance, the leader was chosen by secret-ballot voting among delegates. The results of these votes are listed below. The leaders of the party's predecessors, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Manitoba Section) and the Independent Labour Party (Manitoba) had all been elected unopposed.[1]

1961 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 4, 1961)

Candidate Result
Russell Paulley winner
Cliff Matthews .
Hans Fries .

Paulley's victory was reported in the Winnipeg Free Press on November 6, 1961. The numerical totals were not released, but it is generally accepted that Paulley won by a significant majority. In 1968, he was challenged for the party leadership by fellow legislator Sidney Green.

1968 leadership challenge[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 3, 1968)

Candidate Votes %
Russell Paulley 213 55.91
Sidney Green 168 44.09
Total Valid Votes 381 100.00

(Results taken from The Globe and Mail, 4 November 1968.)

Paulley resigned as party leader in 1969.

1969 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 7, 1969)

Candidate Votes %
Edward Schreyer 506 74.08
Sidney Green 177 25.92
Total Valid Votes 683 100.00

(Results taken from The Globe and Mail, 9 June 1969.)

Schreyer resigned as party leader in January 1979, after being appointed Governor-General of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the same month, Howard Pawley was chosen as interim leader of the NDP's legislative caucus, defeating Sidney Green and Saul Cherniack in a closed-session vote.

1979 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 4, 1979)

Candidate Votes %
Howard Pawley 467 63.36
Muriel Smith 217 29.44
Russell Doern 53 7.19
Total Valid Votes 737 100.00

A fourth candidate, Nick Ternette, withdrew from the contest on November 2, 1979, and backed Muriel Smith.

(Results taken from The Globe and Mail, 5 November 1979).

Pawley resigned as leader in 1988, after his government lost a vote of confidence in the legislature. He continued to serve as premier in a caretaker government, and the NDP held a snap leadership convention in the opening weeks of the 1988 provincial election.

1988 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 30, 1988)

First ballot:

Candidate Votes %
Gary Doer 631 37.94
Len Harapiak 543 32.65
Andy Anstett 317 19.06
Maureen Hemphill 167 10.04
Conrad Santos 5 0.30
Total Valid Votes 1,663 100.00

Hemphill and Santos both fell below the 15% quota required to stay on the ballot and were eliminated. Hemphill supported Anstett on the second ballot.

Second ballot:

Candidate Votes %
Gary Doer 744 44.93
Len Harapiak 622 37.56
Andy Anstett 290 17.51
Total Valid Votes 1,656 100.00

Anstett was eliminated. Both Anstett and Hemphill supported Harapiak on the third ballot.

Third ballot:

Candidate Votes %
Gary Doer 835 50.64
Len Harapiak 814 49.36
Total Valid Votes 1,649 100.00

(Results taken from The Globe and Mail and Winnipeg Free Press, 31 March 1988.)

Gary Doer led the Manitoba NDP until 2009 and served as premier of Manitoba from 1999 until 2009.

2009 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 17, 2009)

Candidate Votes %
Greg Selinger 1,317 65.75
Steve Ashton 685 34.20
Total Valid Votes 2,002 100.00

Greg Selinger became leader and was sworn in as Premier on October 19, 2009.

2015 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 8, 2015)

The leadership election was called by Selinger as a test of his leadership following a caucus revolt. First ballot

Candidate Votes %
Greg Selinger 612 36.02
Theresa Oswald 575 33.84
Steve Ashton 502 29.54
Total Valid Votes 1,699 100.00

Ashton eliminated. Releases his delegates, did not publicly endorse another candidate[2]

Second ballot

Candidate Votes[3] %
Greg Selinger 759 50.93
Theresa Oswald 726 48.72
Total Valid Votes 1,490 100.00

2017 leadership convention[edit]

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 16, 2017)

Candidate Votes %
Wab Kinew 728 74.3
Steve Ashton 253 25.7
Total Valid Votes 981 100.00

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wiseman, Nelson (1983). Social Democracy in Manitoba: A History of the CCF-NDP. University of Manitoba Press. pp. 100–119. ISBN 0887553664. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  2. ^ "Manitoba Premier Selinger leads after first ballot in NDP leadership vote". The Globe and Mail. March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "Greg Selinger remains leader of Manitoba NDP, province's premier". CBC News. March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.