Contrary to the national trend that saw Mark Carney’s Liberals return for a fourth term, Alberta’s federal election on Monday was dominated by Conservatives in all but a few ridings. In smaller centres and rural areas, Conservatives were elected and re-elected, many in landslide numbers, including Garnett Genuis in Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Shannon Stubbs in Lakeland, Michelle Rempel Garner in Calgary Nose Hill, Rachael Thomas in Lethbridge and John Barlow in Foothills.
As of 12 a.m. Tuesday, Global News was projecting Conservative wins in 32 of the province’s 37 ridings.
In 2021, George Chahal became the first Liberal to win a seat in Parliament from Calgary since 1968, making history in the city. Early Tuesday however, he was trailing to Conservative challenger Dalwinder Gill in the redrawn riding of Calgary McKnight.
Chahal was scheduled to speak from his campaign office in northeast Calgary at 8:45 p.m.He didn’t emerge until about 11 p.m.
“Tonight, we’re still waiting for the results,” Chahal stated to the cheering crowd. “This election was much tighter than anticipated. I will make a formal statement after all polls are in. As of 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Liberal Corey Hogan led Conservative Jeremy Nixon, a former Alberta cabinet minister, in a close race in Calgary Confederation. Conservative incumbent Greg McLean appeared to be fending off a stiff challenge in Calgary Centre early Tuesday from Liberal Lindsay Luhnau.
In Edmonton, the Liberals and NDP failed to consolidate or build on earlier gains.The Liberals were leading in Edmonton Centre early Tuesday, with candidate Eleanor Olszewski ahead of Conservative Sayid Ahmed. The riding had been held by former Liberal cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault, but he did not run again.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, a former federal energy minister, had hoped to return to the Liberal fold in Edmonton Southeast but was handily defeated by Conservative candidate Jagsharan Singh Mahal.
Sohi told a solemn crowd of supporters at a banquet hall that the election result wasn’t what he was expecting, but that he had no regrets.
Sohi stated, “This is not a reflection of this campaign.”
Conservatives dominate Alberta in federal election, few wins for Liberals and NDP
