Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has successfully reclaimed a Parliament seat in Alberta, following a high-stakes by-election that marked his return to politics after a previous defeat. According to preliminary figures from Canada's electoral commission, Poilievre garnered an impressive 80.4% of the votes in the rural Battle River-Crowfoot riding, where he addressed jubilant supporters.
This victory comes just four months after Poilievre's party was outperformed by the Liberals, led by Mark Carney, and he lost his Ottawa-area seat to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy. Poilievre faced a unique challenge during this by-election, as he competed against a record 214 candidates, many of whom were linked to a protest group advocating for electoral reform. Voters needed to use write-in ballots because of this unusually high candidate pool.
Despite the circumstances, more than 50,000 ballots were cast in a riding with approximately 86,000 eligible voters. Poilievre's success allows him to return to Parliament for the upcoming autumn session, where he will resume his position as the head of Canada's official opposition. Prime Minister Carney extended his congratulations to Poilievre for regaining his place in the House of Commons and expressed appreciation for his Liberal rival, Darcy Spady, who managed 4% of the vote.
The special election was initiated in June after former Conservative MP Damian Kurek ceded his seat for Poilievre’s opportunity to run. Kurek had previously won with a staggering 83% of votes, reflecting the riding's strong Conservative alignment. Poilievre faced some criticism from locals, including independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who suggested that his candidacy was strategically motivated.
In his campaign, Poilievre emphasized his commitment to engaging with constituents, asserting, "I believe in humility and earning people's trust." Looking ahead, the Conservative leader faces a leadership review set to occur in January, where party members will decide his future as leader following the national convention. Meanwhile, the House of Commons is due to reconvene from its summer recess on September 15.
