Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre celebrated a pivotal by-election victory in Alberta, reclaiming a seat in Parliament after a disappointing outcome in the previous general election. With most ballots counted, Poilievre achieved a commanding 80.4% of the vote in the predominantly rural district of Battle River-Crowfoot, based on preliminary data from the electoral commission.
In an enthusiastic speech to supporters, Poilievre expressed that connecting with the community had been a privilege. The win marks a notable comeback for him, following a loss to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy in the Ottawa area earlier this year, a seat he held for two decades.
This by-election, which saw Poilievre contend with an unprecedented 214 candidates—many linked to a group advocating for electoral reform—has drawn significant attention. Due to the overwhelming candidate presence, voters were instructed to use write-in ballots. Preliminary figures show that over 50,000 ballots were submitted in a district with around 86,000 eligible voters.
Poilievre's return to Parliament positions him again as the leader of the official opposition as the autumn session approaches. Prime Minister Mark Carney extended his congratulations via X, acknowledging Poilievre's reinstatement to the House of Commons and extended his gratitude toward Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, who garnered only 4% of the vote in a historically Conservative area.
The special election was initiated in June after former Conservative MP Damian Kurek vacated the seat to enable Poilievre to run. Poilievre commended Kurek during his victory speech for his "gracious sacrifice." Alberta has long been regarded as a Conservative bastion, with previous Conservative winners securing at least 70% of the votes.
Despite the overwhelming support, Poilievre faced some challenges, including criticism from locals like independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who accused him of leveraging the riding for personal gains. Responding to these assertions, Poilievre maintained that he approached the campaign as if he were "one vote behind," emphasizing the importance of humility and earning trust.
Looking ahead, he faces an essential leadership review in January to determine if he will continue as the Conservative leader during the upcoming national convention. Canada's House of Commons is slated to reconvene following the summer recess on September 15.
