Publication date: Nov 07, 2022 • 9 hours ago • 3 min read • 33 comments Danielle Smith celebrates winning the UCP leadership in Calgary on October 6. Al Charest / Postmedia

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Will Alberta’s new premier get a seat in the legislature?

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That’s what Brooks-Medicine Hat residents will decide Tuesday as voters head to the polls for a runoff election that turns all eyes on the southern Alberta region. Sign up to receive daily news headlines from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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Premier Danielle Smith won the leadership of her United Conservative Party last month, but is now seeking a second victory in a by-election, which she called shortly after being sworn in. Her main competition comes from two local candidates, each looking to pull off a major upset: retired Medicine Hat teacher Gwendoline Dirk is running for the NDP, while former Brooks mayor Barry Morishita has thrown his hat into the ring as leader of the centrist Alberta party. Two far-right candidates — Bob Blayone of the Independence Party and Alberta’s Jeevan Mangat of the Wildrose Independence Party — round out the ballot.

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Smith is the heavy favorite in the race, said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams, who added that she needs a significant margin of victory to consolidate her position as UCP leader. “He absolutely has to win and win decisively in this primary,” Williams said. “If Danielle Smith didn’t win, it would put her in a very weakened position. He would have to take a seat in another primary or try to govern out of the legislature, neither of which are particularly pleasant options.” Williams said Smith is facing challenges from strong local candidates as well as criticism for her decision to run in Brooks-Medicine Hat instead of the vacant Calgary-Elbow seat, where the new premier has said there won’t be a by-election.

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Williams added that a strong showing by Morisita could boost the Alberta Party’s future electoral prospects. “It could be a springboard to success for the Alberta Party in the general election,” Williams said. Primary voting for the by-election began on November 1 and ended on November 5, with precincts being set up in Medicine Hat, Brooks and Bassano. Elections Alberta said Monday that 4,231 votes were cast at those polls, representing 12.4 per cent of the roughly 34,000 eligible voters. That’s down from the 22 percent of eligible Brooks-Medicine Hat voters who voted in advance in the 2019 general election.

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Morishita said Monday he was pleased with the effort his team put into the campaign, with teams focused on the riding’s west in Brooks County and east of it around Medicine Hat. “We went to each other, we did a lot of doors, we got a lot of signs on private property, we went to a lot of events, I learned a lot, so we’re optimistic,” Morishita said. “We’ve got a few more things to do (Monday) and then we’ll see how it goes.” Dirk’s campaign manager, Kevin Smith, said the NDP hopes the results will signal dissatisfaction with Smith’s early tenure as premier. “It’s just to send a message to Danielle Smith and the UCP that Albertans are not ready for the chaos she’s bringing to the economy, to the health care system,” said Kevin Smith. “I think he’s going to see a message in a place he thought he could take for granted.” The Smith campaign declined to comment when reached by Postmedia on Monday. Voting in the primary election takes place from 9am to 8pm on Tuesday. Results are expected to filter in after polls close, with Elections Alberta saying Monday that all ballots are expected to be counted by 10 p.m. The campaign period lasted 28 days, the minimum allowed under provincial law. Former Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey resigned her seat last month to allow Smith to trigger re-election. [email protected] Twitter: @jasonfherring

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