1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election

1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election

←  1961 October 4, 1970 1978  →

Candidate Stephen Lewis Walter Pitman Douglas Campbell Riding Scarborough West Peterborough None Final ballot 1,188 (64.18%) 642 (34.68%) 21 (1.13%)

Leader before election Donald C. MacDonald Elected Leader Stephen Lewis

1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election

Date	October 4, 1970
Convention	Royal York Hotel Toronto, Ontario
Resigning leader	Donald C. MacDonald
Won by	Stephen Lewis
Ballots	1
Candidates	3
Ontario CCF/NDP leadership conventions 1942 · 1946 · 1953 · 1961 · 1968 · 1970 · 1978 · 1982 · 1986 · 1996 · 2009 · 2023

The 1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election was held in Toronto, Ontario, on October 4, 1970, to elect a successor to Donald C. MacDonald as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). The election was necessary because MacDonald announced he would not seek re-election as leader at the party's 1970 convention. Stephen Lewis won on the first ballot, defeating Walter Pitman. ^[1]

Background

Outgoing ONDP leader Donald C. MacDonald was officially neutral, but quietly favoured Pitman. ^[2]

Lewis was perceived to be the more left-wing of the two candidates. His victory was attributable to strong support from unions, particularly the United Steelworkers, as well as from younger party members. ^[3]

Candidates

Douglas Campbell

Douglas Campbell was a perennial candidate from Toronto. He was previously an independent candidate for St. Paul's in the 1962 federal election. Campbell worked as a teacher.

Stephen Lewis

Stephen Lewis was the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Scarborough West. He was first elected in the 1963 provincial election.

Walter Pitman

Walter Pitman was the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Peterborough. He was first elected in the 1967 provincial election. Before entering politics, he was a teacher. ^[4]

Endorsements ^{[5] [6]}

• MPPs: (1) Morton Shulman (High Park)
• Municipal politicians: (1) Ruth Grier (Etobicoke Councillor)

Voting results

Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Stephen Lewis	1,188	64.18
Walter Pitman	642	34.68
Douglas Campbell	21	1.13
Total	1,851	100

References

1. "Lewis to lead NDP in fight against U.S. influence". Toronto Daily Star. 1970-10-05.
2. MacDonald, Donald (1998). The Happy Warrior: Political Memoirs (2 ed.). Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   1-55002-307-1.
3. Morley, John (1984). Secular Socialists the CCF/NDP in Ontario, a Biography (1st ed.). McGill-Queen's University. ISBN   0-7735-0390-0.
4. Kovach, Joelle (2018-06-14). "Walter Pitman was Peterborough's NDP MP, MPP". Peterborough: Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
5. "Pitman almost certain candidate for NDP leadership, group says". Globe and Mail . 22 July 1970. p. 3.
6. "Shulman Supports Pitman". library-archives.canada.ca. CHUM News. 1970-08-26. Retrieved 2025-02-28.