Alberta NDP wins byelection in longtime Conservative riding of Calgary-Shaw

Naheed Nenshi’s NDP on Monday declared victory in a south Calgary byelection after unofficial results showed the Opposition party snatched up the longtime Conservative stronghold of Calgary-Shaw.

Unofficial results show NDP candidate Kyle Campbell received 7,461 votes, more than 500 ballots ahead of Mike Derry, who ran under Premier Danielle Smith’s governing United Conservative Party.

The south Calgary riding, created in 1986, has long voted Conservative, with the NDP winning the seat only once in 2015 as part of the “orange wave” that brought former premier Rachel Notley into government.

“This was a historic win for Alberta’s New Democrats, and the voters of Calgary-Shaw just sent Danielle Smith and the UCP government a strong message tonight that this government is simply not good enough,” said Naheed Nenshi, Leader of the Alberta NDP. “This was considered a safe Conservative seat which has been won by them by large margins. Today, the voters have proven that there is no safe UCP seat in Calgary.