2026 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election

2026 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election

←  2022 November 28, 2026

Incumbent leader Iain Rankin (interim)

2026 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election

Date	November 28, 2026
Resigning leader	Zach Churchill
Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership elections 1930 · 1945 · 1954 · 1962 · 1965 · 1980 · 1986 · 1992 · 1997 · 2002 · 2004 · 2007 · 2021 · 2022 · 2026

In 2026, the Nova Scotia Liberal Party will hold a leadership election to choose a permanent leader to replace Iain Rankin, who became leader on an interim basis following the resignation of Zach Churchill. Churchill announced his resignation after being defeated in the 2024 Nova Scotia general election.

Background

In 2022, Churchill won the leadership election, ^{[1] [2]} leading the Liberals into the 2024 general election. The party placed in third place with two seats, behind the Progressive Conservative Party and New Democratic Party; this was the worst result in party history. ^[3] Churchill himself was unseated by 14 votes by PC candidate Nick Hilton. ^[4] He resigned as leader of the party on December 10, 2024. MLA Derek Mombourquette served as interim leader from 2024 to 2025, and was then replaced by former leader Iain Rankin. ^[5]

The party announced its rules for the leadership election in June 2025. ^{[6] [7]}

Potential candidates

• Derek Mombourquette, interim leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party (2024–2025), MLA for Sydney-Membertou (2015–present) ^[8]

See also

• 2026 Canadian electoral calendar
• Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership elections

References

1. "Zach Churchill elected new leader of Nova Scotia Liberal Party". CBC News. July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
2. "Nova Scotia Liberals elect new leader Zach Churchill to replace ex-premier Iain Rankin". CTV News. July 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
3. "NDP poised to become Official Opposition as Liberal vote collapses". CBC News. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
4. "N.S. Liberal Leader loses seat to PC candidate, trails just 14 votes". Atlantic. November 27, 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
5. "N.S. news: Iain Rankin takes over as Liberal leader". www.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
6. "N.S. Liberals to select new leader in November 2026 | CBC News". Archived from the original on January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
7. "Nova Scotia Liberal Party Announces Rules for 2026 Leadership Race – Nova Scotia Liberal Party". liberal.ns.ca. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
8. "Interim Liberal leader unsure if he wants job permanently as party releases leadership rules | CBC News". Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2026.