Alberta NDP Leader Nenshi wins seat in 1 of 3 byelections

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has won a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines.

He held Edmonton-Strathcona for the New Democrats in one of three provincial byelections Monday night, replacing former premier Rachel Notley in the party stronghold.

"It means I get a parking spot at the legislature. But in reality, I think I've been doing this job for a whole year, and I'm just really grateful for the people of Edmonton-Strathcona to put us up on the next step," he told reporters in Edmonton Monday night.

"It was a three step process: win the leadership, get a seat in the house, and now we win the general election," he said.

Unofficial results from Elections Alberta indicate he earned more than 82 per cent of the vote.

The former Calgary mayor pulled in nearly 8,000 votes, and his nearest competitor, United Conservative Party candidate Darby Crouch, captured just over 1,300.

UCP Premier Danielle Smith congratulated Nenshi on social media after the results rolled in.

"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 on X.

Nenshi will face off with the premier in the legislature's question period when the house reconvenes in the fall.

"It will be a little fun for me to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the premier," said Nenshi.

His NDP also declared victory in Edmonton-Ellerslie, where the party's candidate, Gurtej Singh Brar, came in ahead of United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj by over 1,000 votes.

In a third byelection the UCP's candidate, Tara Sawyer, won Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills handily.

Sawyer won about 61 per cent of the vote.

While the separatist Republican Party of Alberta captured attention and headlines amid renewed support for secession from Confederation, leader Cameron Davies garnered fewer votes as a candidate in the rural central Alberta riding than the New Democrat Bev Toews.

Smith, congratulating Sawyer on social media, said her candidate ran a focused, grassroots campaign.

"(She) will be a strong voice for rural Alberta in the legislature," said Smith.

Toews, in a statement, expressed pride and optimism in the campaign.

"People have long written off this riding, but we saw real progress and a willingness to talk about a better future for rural Alberta," said Toews.

"This campaign was about pushing for accessible health care, strong public education, affordability for families and farmers, and unity over division," she said.

Davies, speaking to reporters in the small town of Olds, said that his Republican Party is up against "brainless socialists" and "spineless conservatives."

"We're just getting started. This is just the beginning," he said.

- With files from Jack Farrell