Orange crushed: Rachel Notley to give up leadership of NDP

Image credit: New Democratic Party.

Rachel Notley says she is stepping away as leader of the Alberta NDP.

At a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, the former Premier said she will hand over the party to a new leader before the next provincial election.

“Having considered what I believe to be the best interests of our party, our caucus, as well as my own preferences, I am here today to announce that I will not be leading Alberta’s NDP into the next election,” Notley said to the assembled media members.

With the lost election in 2023, Notley’s NDP did gain seats, but it was consecutive defeats to the United Conservative Party in general provincial elections, leading many to question the party’s future.

She was part of one of the biggest shocks in Canadian political history, as the NDP formed government in Alberta in 2015, ending a Progressive Conservative run of over 40 years, dating back to 1971.

Notley was voted as NDP leader in 2014 and came from a political family, with her father Grant Notley leading the NDP from 1968 to 1984.

She said she will remain as leader until they elect a new one, and will stay on as MLA of Edmonton-Strathcona.

Meanwhile, the United Conservative Party is hosting a fundraiser in Bonnyville with leader Danielle Smith on Friday, January 26 at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre. More information can be found here.

Smith said she thanks Notley for the work she’s done as an opposition leader.

“I would like to thank the Honourable Rachel Notley, MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona and Alberta’s 17th Premier, for her many years of dedicated service to her constituents and to all Albertans. Serving as Premier is an extremely demanding job, and she served in that office with an honour and dignity reminiscent of her late father, another honourable and loyal Albertan and public servant. I wish Ms. Notley all the best in her future endeavours and whatever comes next for her and her family,” Smith said on X.