New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership elections

The New Democratic Party of Manitoba has held five leadership conventions to select a party leader since its founding in 1961. In each instance, the leader was chosen by secret-ballot voting among delegates. The results of these votes are listed below.

1961 leadership convention

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 4, 1961)

Candidate	Result
Russell Paulley	winner
Cliff Matthews	.
Hans Fries	.

Paulley's victory was reported in the Winnipeg Free Press on November 6, 1961. The numerical totals were not released, although is generally accepted that Paulley won by a significant majority. In 1968, he was challenged for the party leadership by fellow legislator Sidney Green.

1968 leadership challenge

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 3, 1968)

Candidate	Votes	%
Russell Paulley	213	55.91
Sidney Green	168	44.09
Total Valid Votes	381	100.00

(Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 4 November 1968.)

Paulley resigned as party leader in 1969.

1969 leadership convention

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 7, 1969)

Candidate	Votes	%
Edward Schreyer	506	74.08
Sidney Green	177	25.92
Total Valid Votes	683	100.00

(Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 9 June 1969.)

Schreyer resigned as party leader in January 1979, after being appointed Governor-General of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the same month, Howard Pawley was chosen as interim leader of the NDP's legislative caucus, defeating Sidney Green and Saul Cherniack in a closed-session vote.

1979 leadership convention

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 4, 1979)

Candidate	Votes	%
Howard Pawley	467	63.36
Muriel Smith	217	29.44
Russell Doern	53	7.19
Total Valid Votes	737	100.00

A fourth candidate, Nick Ternette, withdrew from the contest on November 2, 1979 and backed Muriel Smith.

(Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 5 November 1979).

Pawley resigned as leader in 1988, after his government lost a vote of confidence in the legislature. He continued to serve as premier in a caretaker government, and the NDP held a snap leadership convention in the opening weeks of the 1988 provincial election.

1988 leadership convention

(Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 30, 1988)

First ballot:

Candidate	Votes	%
Gary Doer	631	37.94
Len Harapiak	543	32.65
Andy Anstett	317	19.06
Maureen Hemphill	167	10.04
Conrad Santos	5	0.30
Total Valid Votes	1,663	100.00

Hemphill and Santos both fell below the 15% quota required to stay on the ballot, and were eliminated. Hemphill supported Anstett on the second ballot.

Second ballot:

Candidate	Votes	%
Gary Doer	744	44.93
Len Harapiak	622	37.56
Andy Anstett	290	17.51
Total Valid Votes	1,656	100.00

Anstett was eliminated. Both Anstett and Hemphill supported Harapiak on the third ballot.

Third ballot:

Candidate	Votes	%
Gary Doer	835	50.64
Len Harapiak	814	49.36
Total Valid Votes	1,649	100.00

(Results taken from the Globe and Mail and Winnipeg Free Press, 31 March 1988.)

Gary Doer lead the Manitoba NDP until 2009. He served as premier of Manitoba from 1999 until 2009. He is now the Canadian Ambassador to the United States.

2009 leadership convention

Candidate	Votes	%
Greg Selinger	1,317	65.75
Steve Ashton	685	34.20
Total Valid Votes	2,002	100.00

Greg Selinger became leader and was sworn in as Premier on October 19, 2009.

See also

• Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba leadership elections
• Manitoba Liberal Party leadership elections