Alberta Election 2023: UCP and NDP Major Wins and Losses

UCP Leader Premier Danielle Smith (L) speaks at an economic forum in Calgary, Alta., on April 18, 2023, and NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley addresses the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 15, 2022, in this compilation photo. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

The UCP won another majority government in the May 29 Alberta election, confirming late-stage polling projections close to election day. The party took almost all the seats outside of the major urban centres, while losing all ridings in Edmonton, and edged out in a number of Calgary ridings.

Some of the biggest losers of the election were the smaller parties, whose share of the popular vote went down to 3 percent from 12 percent in 2019.

UCP Leader Danielle Smith who represents the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat, won her riding decisively (66.5 percent) against NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk (27.3 percent).

NDP Leader Rachel Notley won in her riding in a similar fashion, with 79.7 percent of the vote in Edmonton-Strathcona.

Here is a list of UCP cabinet ministers who kept or lost their seats.

Seats Kept

Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure Nathan Neudorf secured a win over NDP’s Rob Miyashiro with 50.6 percent of the vote in Lethbridge-East.

Former UCP leadership candidate Brain Jean retained his role as Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development as he defeated NDP’s Calan Hobbs, garnering 73.4 percent of voter support in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.

Energy Minister Peter Guthrie easily held his seat in Airdrie-Cochrane (60.2 percent) defeating NDP’s Shaun Fluker with 37.3 percent.

Trade Minister Rajan Sawhney, who holds the riding of Calgary-North East after former Energy Minister Sonya Savage chose not to run, managed to secure a narrow win (48.3 percent) over the NDP’s Michael Lisboa-Smith (47.7 percent). Sawhney’s former riding of Calgary-North East was lost to the NDP’s Gurinder Brar.

Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish continues to hold onto the riding of Strathcona-Sherwood Park (53.1 percent) defeating NDP’s Bill Tonita (44.6 percent).

Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Matt Jones, cruised to victory in Calgary South-East with nearly 60 percent of voters supporting him. NDP’s Justin Huseby had 39.3 percent of the vote.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, won decisively in Calgary-West by more than 55 percent of the vote, while Joan Chand’oiseau of the NDP had about 42 percent.

Todd Loewen, who was removed from UCP caucus by former Premier Jason Kenney before running for leadership in 2022 and falling short, coasted to a win (77.7 percent) in Central Peace-Notley, retaining his position as minister of forestry, parks and tourism.

Children’s Services Minister, Mickey Amery, emerged as the winner (50 percent) for Calgary-Cross against NDP’s Gurinder Singh Gill (46.5 percent).

The fight for Calgary-Bow went down to the wire with Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides eventually securing a narrow win (49.3 percent) over NDP’s Druh Farrell (47.8 percent).

Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen won handily in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake with more than 70 percent of the vote, defeating NDP candidate Jason Heistad with 25 percent.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange held on to Red Deer-North with 57.5 percent against NDP’s Jaelene Tweedle (38.6 percent).

Municipalities Minister Rebecca Schulz secured another victory (56.3 percent) in Calgary-Shaw against NDP’s David Cloutier (42.8 percent).

Agriculture Minister Nathan Horner defeated his opponents with an overwhelming 82.1 percent. NDP’s Juliet Franklin, who contested Horner for Drumheller-Stettler, had only 14.4 percent of the vote.

Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally managed to hold back NDP’s Karen Shaw (45.4 percent) with his win (51.1 percent) in Morinville-St. Albert.

Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson (67.4 percent) defeated NDP candidate Katherine Swampy (28 percent) in the riding of Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin.

Seats Lost

Health Minister Jason Copping in Calgary-Varsity lost to NDP’s Luanne Metz by a wide margin, with the former garnering only 40.6 percent of support compared to nearly 60 percent for the NDP candidate.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Nicholas Milliken lost his seat to NDP newcomer Janet Eremenko who surpassed him by over 12 percent in Calgary-Currie. Milliken’s loss will impact the UCP as mental health is one of the key issues the party wishes to address, as stated in its election platform.

Justice Minister Tyler Shandro, who spoke out against Ottawa’s gun confiscation program, was edged out by NDP’s Diana Batten by 0.1 percent in Calgary-Acadia. Shandro previously served as the minister of health and the minister of labour and immigration.

Immigration Minister and Deputy Premier Kaycee Madu lost to NDP’s Nathan Ip by more than a 14 percent margin in Edmonton-South West. Madu became Canada’s first black justice minister when Kenney shuffled his cabinet in 2020.

Jason Luan, minister of culture, lost his seat in Calgary-Foothills to NDP candidate Court Ellingson with 49.9 percent against Luan’s 48.7 percent.

Minister of Seniors Community and Social Services Jeremy Nixon lost by a similarly narrow margin in Calgary-Klein to NDP’s Lizette Tejada at 50.8 percent.

Notable NDP Wins

NDP’s Shannon Phillips resumes her duties as MLA for Lethbridge-West defeating UCP candidate Cheryl Seaborn by more than a 10 percent margin.

NDP incumbent Joe Ceci won the riding of Calgary-Buffalo easily leading the polls at 63 percent, leaving UCP’s Astrid Kuhn behind at 33.9 percent. The victory was his third win for his party.

Sherwood Park went over to the NDP after Kyle Kasawski (50.3 percent) beat UCP’s Jordan Walker (43.9 percent).

NDP’s Sarah Elmeligi took Banff-Kananaski away from UCP incumbent Miranda Rosin by less than 200 votes.

NDP candidate Amanda Chapman defeated former Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon in Calgary-Beddington with a mere 2.8 percent lead.

Former infrastructure minister Prasad Panda’s Calgary-Edgemont also flipped to the NDP with candidate Julia Hayter beating him by less than 300 votes.

Calgary-Elbow, which was left vacant by former Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer, was taken by NDP’s Samir Kayande with 49 percent versus 46 percent for UCP’s Chris Davis.

NDP incumbent Marie Renaud retains her seat in St. Albert with a win over UCP’s Angela Wood.