Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has announced that he will seek election from a Calgary riding in the next provincial general election, choosing not to run again in his current constituency of Edmonton-Strathcona. Nenshi, who served as Calgary’s mayor for 11 years from 2010 to 2021, made the announcement through a message to constituents, saying he remains grateful to the people of Edmonton-Strathcona, where he won a 2025 byelection with a strong majority.
The NDP leader said Calgary holds a special place in his political journey and argued that the party needs to strengthen its presence in the city to challenge the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) in the next election.
Nenshi has not yet revealed which Calgary constituency he will contest. He said the decision will come after Alberta’s electoral boundary review process is completed and new riding maps are finalized.
Political observers say Nenshi’s move signals the importance of Calgary in Alberta’s next provincial election battle. The city, once considered a stronghold for conservative parties, has become a key battleground where both the UCP and NDP are expected to compete for crucial seats. Nenshi became leader of the Alberta NDP in 2024 after winning the party leadership race and later entered the legislature through the Edmonton-Strathcona byelection in 2025.
Alberta’s next general election is scheduled for October 2027, with Calgary expected to play a decisive role in determining the province’s political future.
