Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi announced that he will be running to become the leader of the Alberta NDP.
Nenshi announced his campaign to succeed former premier Rachel Notley on Monday afternoon.
Nenshi didn’t kick off his campaign with a press conference as he did his three successful Calgary mayoral campaigns, opting instead to launch online and do an interview with CBC. He also changed his X bio to “Running to lead Alberta’s NDP” and published a new website.
In the interview, Nenshi said the current UCP government is “not only incompetent, but they’re actually immoral and they’re dangerous.”
“I want to bring back an era of optimism, a sense that the NDP stands for a better Alberta, an Alberta for all of us, which is my campaign line,” said Nenshi.
On his website, Nenshi vowed to “continue the legacy of Rachel Notley.”
The former mayor joins five other candidates who have already announced their intention to run for leadership.
Calgary MLA and energy critic Kathleen Ganley was the first candidate to throw her hat in the ring. She was followed by Sarah Hoffman, Rakhi Pancholi, and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, who announced their candidacies last month. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan announced his leadership bid in early March.
Edmonton MLA David Shepherd also announced his leadership bid but withdrew shortly after due to ongoing health issues.
Pancholi and Hoffman made their announcements saying that they would oppose the carbon tax.
Political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Lori Williams, said that Nenshi’s moderate positions could give him an advantage in the Alberta NDP leadership, according to Global News.
Williams said that the former Calgary mayor should have support in Calgary. Still, for Nenshi to beat his former university classmate, Danielle Smith, he will need support from rural Alberta, which helped Smith win Alberta’s last election.
Nenshi was elected as the 36th mayor of Calgary in Oct. 2010 with 39% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2013 with 74% of the vote and again re-elected in 2017 with 51% of the vote. He did not seek re-election in 2021 and was succeeded by current Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
Any other candidates hoping to throw their hat in the ring must register by Friday.
The voting process will begin on May 22, and a new leader is expected to be announced on June 22.
Members of the NDP can vote for their preferred leader online, by mail, or on the phone.
NDP members wishing to vote in the leadership race must have an active membership by April 22.
