Former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley, left, congratulates Naheed Nenshi after he was named as the new leader of the Alberta NDP in Calgary on June 22.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Naheed Nenshi after steamrolling his opponents in the race to be leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party gifted each of them a pen, symbolizing what he says is his intention to collaboratively write the next chapter of the party’s history.
The gesture follows weeks of concern and speculation that the former Calgary mayor, known for his aversion to partisanship and party politics, could drag the NDP away from its roots.
In an interview with The Globe and Mail on Sunday, a day after winning in a historic landslide over several established party insiders, Mr. Nenshi said he would consider it a failure if he changed the NDP to conform solely to his views.
“If people saw the NDP as the Nenshi Democratic Party, then that would actually be a mistake, partially because that’s not what it should be and this face is not handsome enough to carry an entire party,” he joked. “But, also, because I won’t be around forever and we have to create an enduring moment that is deeply focused on what Albertans really need.”
Mr. Nenshi, to the shock of very few, won leadership of the Alberta NDP with ease Saturday night. He received 62,746 votes, or 86 per cent support, on the first ballot, which the party said is the largest number of votes cast for a provincial leadership candidate in Canadian history.
By comparison, his predecessor Rachel Notley took the helm of the NDP in 2014 with 2,512 votes and Premier Danielle Smith won leadership of the United Conservative Party in 2022 after capturing 42,423 votes, 54 per cent, on the final ballot.
Mr. Nenshi said Sunday that he wants to build on the legacy of Ms. Notley, who transformed the NDP from a fringe party to a political powerhouse, which formed a one-term majority government in 2015. The new leader said he will chart a path forward by listening and learning from his caucus, NDP supporters and Albertans as a whole.
“The legislature doesn’t sit again for a long time, but we will have a lot of opportunity between now and then to really build up who we are, what we stand for and really spend a lot of time listening, listening, listening to Albertans,” he said.
“I’m also deeply aware of the fact that the election’s not for three years and, for us to make huge promises now that may not work in three years after the UCP has wreaked more destruction on Alberta, I don’t think is very responsible.”
However, despite the significant show of confidence for Mr. Nenshi, he will need to clear a slew of hurdles to lead the NDP to victory in an expected 2027 provincial election.
Mr. Nenshi will not only need to unite tens of thousands of members with varied political positions but he must rally support across Alberta for the NDP cause, in addition to seeking a seat in the legislature for himself. Mr. Nenshi said he is in “no rush” to take a seat but said he will consider options as they become available.
Political scientists believe it’s unlikely he will go for the Lethbridge seat that is opening with the departure of MLA Shannon Phillips and instead opt for a seat in hometown Calgary.
Mr. Nenshi appealed to voters outside the traditional fold of the NDP to secure his leadership, galvanizing supporters on anti-UCP sentiment rather than policy proposals. But Trevor Harrison, a professor of sociology at the University of Lethbridge, said that strategy will eventually grow stale and actual meat is needed on policy bones to charm supporters outside the party’s loyal urban base.
Dr. Harrison added that Mr. Nenshi will still need to calm concerns about his political past during the leadership campaign, including the accusation that he is anti-union. It’s important, the professor said, that Mr. Nenshi not only recognizes but maintains the deep tie between the labour movement and the NDP.
Lisa Young, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary, said another challenge for Mr. Nenshi will be reassuring deeply dedicated party members that they still have a place in the NDP despite the new leader’s brand of purple politics, mixing Liberal red and Conservative blue.
“I would be astonished if we didn’t see the UCP try to define Nenshi in the eyes of voters in a very negative way,” she said. That could include the assertion, already faced by Ms. Notley, that the NDP and its leader are strongly linked to the increasingly unpopular Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
“Early perceptions can linger and I think the party needs to be ready with a counter-introduction of Nenshi to the broader population.”