Historic Calgary-Shaw Byelection Upset
Alberta NDP Flips Long-Held Conservative Riding in Calgary-Shaw Byelection
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Key Points
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Campbell received 7,461 of the 16,002 votes counted, while Progressive Tory candidate Kyle Joseph finished third with 978 votes, Liberal candidate John Roggeveen received 602, and Independent Rolly Ashdown received 82.
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The result was the United Conservative Party’s first byelection loss since the party was formed in 2017, and the NDP’s first victory in a government-held riding in a byelection since Garth Turcott won Pincher Creek-Crowsnest in 1966.
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Campbell is an employee benefits professional and former president of the Somerset residents’ association; he said after the result that leadership is about service and that he looked forward to representing the constituency in the legislature.
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The riding includes the southwest Calgary neighbourhoods of Legacy, Wolf Willow and Silverado, and the UCP had won it in both the 2019 and 2023 general elections; the UCP’s 2023 margin was nearly 14 percentage points.
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Elections Alberta’s official results are scheduled to be confirmed on Sept. 24; Alberta Premier Danielle Smith nevertheless congratulated Campbell on social media and thanked Derry for his campaign work.
The Alberta NDP pulled off a stunning upset in Calgary-Shaw on Monday, September 14, defeating the United Conservative Party by just 582 votes. NDP candidate Kyle Campbell won 7,461 of 16,002 votes counted—about 47 percent—flipping a conservative stronghold that the UCP had controlled since 2019 CBC. The result marks the first time the NDP has won the seat since 2015 and the first byelection loss for the UCP since the party formed in 2017 Global News.
The byelection followed the resignation of UCP cabinet minister Rebecca Schulz, who had won the riding by nearly 14 percentage points just three years ago. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called it "an earthquake," signaling momentum heading into the provincial election roughly one year away National Observer. Elections Alberta is scheduled to officially confirm results on September 24.
A Conservative Seat Turns Red in Southwest Calgary
Calgary-Shaw covers southwest neighborhoods including Legacy, Wolf Willow, and Silverado. It has been right-of-centre territory since 1986, broken only by an NDP win from 2015 to 2019. UCP candidate Mike Derry came up short with 6,879 votes, while Progressive Tory Kyle Joseph finished third with 978 votes Global News. The tight margin stunned political observers who saw it as a safe UCP seat.
Campbell's Campaign Focused on Health and Cost of Living
Kyle Campbell, an employee benefits professional and former president of the Somerset Residents' Association, centered his campaign on healthcare access, affordability, and public services. The NDP also attacked Premier Danielle Smith's ties to Alberta separatist figures and her stance on a potential separation referendum Global News. Campbell told supporters after winning that "leadership is about service" and he looked forward to representing the constituency in the legislature CBC.
UCP Blames Conservative Vote Split for Historic Loss
Premier Danielle Smith's office attributed the defeat to vote splitting among conservatives, noting that the 978 Progressive Tory votes exceeded Campbell's 582-vote margin National Observer. However, critics including former cabinet minister Peter Guthrie countered that the loss reflected deeper voter discontent over the referendum and provincial governance National Observer. Smith nonetheless congratulated Campbell on social media and thanked Derry for his campaign work.
A Warning Signal for the UCP One Year Before Election Day
Nenshi declared the win proof that no seat is safe for the UCP in Calgary anymore. "This means we send Danielle Smith and her separatist pals packing," he said, looking ahead to the general election CBC. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas called the result a "warning shot" for the ruling government, suggesting suburban voters feel alienated by provincial priorities National Observer. The NDP now eyes momentum in a region the UCP once considered reliably conservative.
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