Former MP Jason Kenney was declared the new leader of Alberta's Progressive Conservatives on Saturday night after campaigning on promises to unite the party and defeat the New Democratic Party in 2019.
BREAKING: @jkenney wins #pcldr with overwhelming mandate: 75.4%. The work is just beginning. Time to #UniteAlberta #pcaa #wrp #ableg #abpoli pic.twitter.com/yu654YPRDU
— Unite Alberta (@UniteAlberta) March 18, 2017
Kenney decisively defeated his fellow leadership candidates by securing 75% of the vote (1,113 votes out of 1,473 cast) in the party's first delegated convention in 32 years.
Richard Starke finished in second place with 323 votes, followed by Byron Nelson in third with 40 votes.
Speaking to the crowd after being announced victorious, Kenney sent a warning to the Alberta NDP.
"Today is the beginning of the end of this disastrous socialist government," said Kenney.
"Today is the beginning of the end of this disastrous socialist government!" pic.twitter.com/Lq5KkOMtaa
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) March 18, 2017
Among other things, Kenney has promised to implement a five point unity plan which entails negotiating a framework agreement with the Wildrose Party to create united free-enterprise party and referring to grassroots support for constructing future policies.
The conclusion of the party leadership election marks the end of a tumultuous past year and a half following the 2015 Alberta general election, when the Conservatives suffered a heavy loss and finished third.
