New Democratic Party leadership elections

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New Democratic Party leadership elections, more commonly known as leadership conventions, are the process by which the Canadian New Democratic Party elects its leader.

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Before 2003, when a modified one member, one vote (OMOV) system was adopted, every biennial New Democratic Party convention, since 1961, was a leadership convention. However, in practice, contested elections were held only when there was a declared leadership race. The earliest example of an incumbent leader being challenged from the convention floor happened in 1973 when Douglas Campbell unsuccessfully opposed David Lewis' leadership. [1] In 2001, NDP Socialist Caucus member Marcel Hatch challenged Alexa McDonough from the floor of the convention; however, McDonough easily retained the leadership in the resulting vote. [2]

When the NDP was created by the merger of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), trade unions were allowed to directly affiliate to the party, and a system was unofficially arranged so that up to one-third of all delegates to NDP conventions were selected by labour and the other two-thirds by NDP riding associations. [3] This was also the case at leadership conventions, giving the labour movement a significant say in determining the party's leadership. Under the current system, each biennial federal convention includes a vote at which the delegates decide whether a leadership convention should be held. [3] Then-leader Thomas Mulcair lost such a vote at the 2016 convention, resulting in the 2017 leadership election being called. [4]

In practice, all three CCF leaders had been chosen by their parliamentary caucus and then elected unanimously at a subsequent national convention.

1961 leadership convention results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on August 3, 1961. [5]

First Ballot
CandidateDelegate SupportPercentage
TommyDouglas-c1971-crop.jpg Tommy Douglas 1,39178.5%
Hazen Argue 38021.5%
Total1,771100%

1971 leadership convention results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on April 24, 1971.

Delegate Support by Ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot4th ballot
Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%
DavidLewis1944.jpg David Lewis 66138.9%71542.5%74244.1%1,04663.1%
James Laxer 37822.3%40724.1%50830.2%61236.9%
John Paul Harney 29917.6%34720.5%43125.6%Eliminated
Ed Broadbent.jpg Ed Broadbent 23613.9%22313.1%Eliminated
Frank Howard 1247.3%Eliminated
Total1,698100.0%1,692100.0%1,681100.0%1,658100.0%

1973 leadership challenge results

Held in Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday, July 20, 1973. [1]

First Ballot
CandidateDelegate SupportPercentage
DavidLewis1944.jpg David Lewis 71990.4%
Douglas Kay Campbell 769.6%
Total795100%

1975 leadership convention results

Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 7, 1975.

Delegate Support by Ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot4th ballot
Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%
Ed Broadbent.jpg Ed Broadbent 53633.1%58636.1%69443.4%98461.5%
Rosemary Brown 41323.5%39724.5%49430.9%65841.1%
Lorne Nystrom (2012).jpg Lorne Nystrom 34521.3%34221.1%41325.8%Eliminated
John Paul Harney 31319.4%29918.4%Eliminated
Douglas Kay Campbell 110.6%Eliminated
Total1,618100.0%1,624100.0%1,601100.0%1,642100.0%

1989 leadership convention results

Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 2, 1989.

Delegate Support by Ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot4th ballot
Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%
AudreyMcLaughlin2012 1.png Audrey McLaughlin 64626.9%82934.3%1,07244.4%1,31655.1%
Dave Barrett 56623.6%78032.3%94739.3%1,07244.9%
Steven W. Langdon 35114.6%51921.5%39316.3%Eliminated
Simon De Jong 31513.1%28912.0%Endorsed McLaughlin
Howard McCurdy 25610.7%Withdrew
Ian Waddell 2138.9%Withdrew
Roger Lagassé532.2%Eliminated
Total2,400100.0%2,417100.0%2,412100.0%2,388100.0%

1995 leadership convention results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on October 14, 1995.

Support by Round
CandidatePrimaries1st ballot
Votes cast%
Lorne Nystrom (2012).jpg Lorne Nystrom 44.69%54531.5%
Svend Robinson.jpg Svend Robinson 32.06%65537.8%
Mcdonoughalexa.jpg Alexa McDonough 18.47%56632.6%
Herschel Hardin 12.8%Did not endorse
Total100.0%1,735100.0%

The NDP held a series of regional and labour "caucus votes" prior to the national convention. A fourth candidate, Herschel Hardin, participated in the regional caucuses but did not win sufficient delegate support to qualify for the convention. These "primaries" were OMOV.

As the last place finisher on the first ballot, Nystrom was dropped. However, Robinson determined that he could not win on the second ballot if Nystrom's supporters moved to McDonough, as they were expected to, thus he withdrew and McDonough was declared the winner.

2001 leadership challenge results

Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sunday, November 25, 2001.

Marcel Hatch, a leader of the NDP's Socialist Caucus, stood for leader as a challenge to Alexa McDonough's leadership. [6]

First Ballot
CandidateDelegate SupportPercentage
Mcdonoughalexa.jpg Alexa McDonough 64584.31%
Marcel Hatch 12015.69%
Total765100%

There were 42 spoiled ballots. If these are factored in McDonough's level of support was 78% overall. [7]

2003 leadership election results

Held in Toronto, Ontario on January 25, 2003.

First Ballot
CandidateVotes
(Adjusted)		Percentage
Jack Layton - 2011.jpg Jack Layton 31,15053.5%
Bill Blaikie.JPG Bill Blaikie 14,36524.7%
Lorne Nystrom (2012).jpg Lorne Nystrom 5,3979.3%
Joe Comartin.jpg Joe Comartin 4,4907.7%
Pierre Ducasse at an NDP rally.png Pierre Ducasse 2,1553.7%
Bev Meslo 6451.1%
Total58,202100%

For this election, the NDP instituted a modified one member one vote system. Votes by labour delegates accounted for 25% of the total result, while votes cast by party members accounted for 75%. The carve out for labour was eliminated prior to the 2012 election.

2012 leadership election

The leadership convention was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on March 24, 2012. [8] [9] There were 128,351 eligible voters, most voting from home and not delegates at the convention. [10]

The party chose Thomas Mulcair as their new leader following the death of Jack Layton on August 22, 2011. A One member, one vote process was used. [11]

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Withdrew nomination
  = Winner
Support by Ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot4th ballot
Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%Votes cast%
Thomas Mulcair, Lac des Castors, juin 2012.jpg Tom Mulcair 19,72830.3%23,90238.3%27,48843.8%33,88157.2%
Brian Topp 2012-02-12 B.jpg Brian Topp 13,91521.4%15,62425.0%19,82231.6%25,32942.8%
Cullen-2012-convention-speech.PNG Nathan Cullen 10,67116.4%12,44919.9%15,42624.6%Did not endorse
Peggy Nash in 2014.jpg Peggy Nash 8,35312.8%10,51916.8%Did not endorse
Paul Dewar 2012-02-12.jpg Paul Dewar 4,8837.5%Did not endorse
Martin Singh 2012.jpg Martin Singh 3,8215.9%Endorsed Mulcair
Niki Ashton 2012-02-12 cropped.jpg Niki Ashton 3,7375.7%Did not endorse
Romeo-Saganash-2012-NDP-Leadership-Convention.PNG Roméo Saganash Endorsed Mulcair
Robert-Chisholm-2012-NDP-Leadership-Convention.png Robert Chisholm Endorsed Mulcair
Total65,108100.0%62,494100.0%62,736100.0%59,210100.0%

2017 leadership election

Voting was held between September 18 to October 1, 2017. The results were announced on October 1 in Toronto, Ontario at the Westin Harbour Castle.

First Ballot
CandidateVotesPercentage
Jagmeet Singh crop.jpg Jagmeet Singh 35,26653.8%
Charlie Angus in 2014.jpg Charlie Angus 12,70519.4%
Niki Ashton 2012-02-12 cropped.jpg Niki Ashton 11,37417.4%
Guy-Caron-Crop-March-27-2017.jpg Guy Caron 6,1649.4%
Total65,782100%

2026 leadership election

Voting will be held in March 29, 2026. The results are expected to be announced in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

References and notes

  1. 1 2 "David Lewis keeps leadership of NDP". Toronto Star . Torstar. July 21, 1973. p. A9.
  2. ↑ Lawton, Valerie (November 26, 2001). "McDonough still rules NDP's house divided". Toronto Star . pp. A1, A18.
  3. 1 2 Morton, Desmond (1986). The New Democrats 1961–86. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman Ltd. pp. 229–235. ISBN   0-7730-4618-6.
  4. ↑ Harris, Kathleen (April 10, 2016). "Tom Mulcair's biggest weakness also his greatest strength: bringing NDP to the centre". CBC News . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ Sears, Val (August 4, 1961). "New Democratic Party Hails Douglas as Leader". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. 1.
  6. ↑ "McDonough fends off leadership challenge". The Globe and Mail . Canadian Press. November 25, 2001. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  7. ↑ "NDP agrees on McDonough, little else", Torstar News Service, The Cambridge Reporter, November 26, 2001
  8. ↑ "We're going bigger: NDP Leadership 2012 venue change". New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  9. ↑ Canadian Press (February 9, 2012). "NDP Convention: Record Turnout Prompts Venue Change To Metro Toronto Convention Centre". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ McLeod, Paul (March 24, 2012). "Mulcair wins NDP leadership". Chronicle Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ LeBlanc, Daniel (September 8, 2011). "Federal NDP rejects special role for unions in selecting leader". Globe and Mail. Canada. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  12. ↑ Ballingball, Alex (October 1, 2017). "Jagmeet Singh wins the NDP leadership race". The Toronto Star. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
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