Two conservative incumbents lost their Calgary ridings by less than 31 votes in the 2023 Alberta provincial election campaign won by Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party. Another three incumbents lost their seats by less than 300 votes, with the defeats largely being handed to Kenney-era cabinet ministers.
UCP incumbent Tyler Shandro lost Calgary Acadia by seven votes to NDP MLA-elect Diana Batten. Shandro was the Health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, but was shuffled to the Justice minister before former premier Jason Kenney’s leadership review. He retained that file under Smith.
Another UCP incumbent, Whitney Issik, lost Calgary Glenmore by 30 votes, with NDP MLA-elect Nagwan Al-Guneid winning 12,679 votes. Issik was Kenney’s Environment and Parks Minister, but had no portfolio in Smith’s government.
The results are unofficial until Elections Alberta ratifies them on June 8. Ridings decided by less than 100 votes will automatically undergo a recount.
UCP incumbent Prasad Panda lost Calgary Edgemont by 283 votes. Panda was the Transportation minister under former premier Jason Kenney, but was not in Smith’s cabinet.
UCP incumbent Jason Luan lost Calgary Foothills by 269 votes. Luan was Kenney’s Community and Social Services minister and Smith’s Culture minister.
Banff Kananaskis incumbent Miranda Rosin lost her seat by 199 votes. Polls showed a wide lead for Rosin until the advanced polls were counted, handing a win to the NDP candidate and environmental scientist Sarah Elmeligi.
In Edmonton Southwest, UCP incumbent Kaycee Madu lost to NDP MLA elect Nathan Ip by over 3,500 votes. Madu served in three ministerial roles under Kenney — Municipal Affairs, Justice, and Labour and Immigration. He was Smith’s deputy premier.
Jason Copping, Health minister for Kenney after Shandro, a position he retained under Smith, lost Calgary Varsity by over 4,000 votes.
There were also a number of narrow wins in Calgary.
UCP incumbent Mickey Amery won Calgary Cross by 518 votes, while UCP incumbent Peter Singh won Calgary East by 701 votes.
UCP incumbent Muhammad Yaseen won Calgary North by 113 votes.
Calgary North West candidate Rajan Sawhney won by 149 votes. Sawney, a former UCP leadership candidate, represented Calgary North East before the election. NDP candidate Gurinder Brar won Calgary North East.
During her victory speech, Smith said she is looking forward to continuing her work in balancing the province’s budget, increasing funding in healthcare and education and challenging the Trudeau government’s carbon tax as premier of Alberta.
“Hopefully the prime minister and his caucus are watching tonight,” said Premier Smith during her victory speech. “If he persists, he will be hurting Canadians from coast to coast.”
“As Premier I cannot, under any circumstances, allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans.”
