A full week into the federal election campaign, the major parties have positioned candidates in most Calgary ridings, but the Liberals and NDP are still playing catch-up. Read More
Eight of Calgary’s 11 federal ridings had full slates of candidates
Eight of Calgary’s 11 federal ridings had full slates of candidates
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A full week into the federal election campaign, the major parties have positioned candidates in most Calgary ridings, but the Liberals and NDP are still playing catch-up.
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The Liberals grew their presence Tuesday, naming political commentator and University of Calgary executive Corey Hogan as its candidate in Calgary Confederation. He replaces Thomas Keeper who was dropped by the party just days ago.
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As of Tuesday, eight of Calgary’s 11 ridings had full slates of candidates. In the remaining three, voters are still waiting to find out who the contenders will be. The Liberals have still not listed candidates in Calgary East and Calgary Heritage, while the federal NDP roster is also missing names in Calgary East and Calgary Heritage, along with Calgary Signal Hill.
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Noon News Roundup
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In rural Alberta, the Liberals are still without posted candidates in the ridings of Battle River-Crowfoot, Bow River, Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner and Ponoka-Didsbury. The NDP is short declared candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot and Foothills.
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Four Calgary ridings will be battleground in federal election says political science professor
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The sluggish start to the snap election comes as several Calgary ridings are shaping up to be more competitive than past elections.
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“There are four ridings in Calgary that are going to be in play: McKnight, Skyview, Centre and Confederation,” said Duane Bratt, a political science professor at Mount Royal University. “Those will be battlegrounds that we haven’t typically seen in this city.”
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Bratt called Hogan’s nomination in Calgary Confederation “a major deal” and expects the ridings to be even more competitive with the announcement.
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“It puts a really high profile candidate, in a potentially winnable riding in the city,” he said. “He’s the most high profile Liberal they have come out with – outside of Chahal.”
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Bratt points to shifting demographics, redrawn boundaries and recent momentum for the federal Liberals as reasons behind the growing competitiveness in Calgary ridings. Calgary Centre has previously gone Liberal, while Skyview is held by the party. Confederation saw success for the NDP provincially in 2023, and McKnight now features a prominent Liberal contender in George Chahal.
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Bratt suggests the Liberals’ slower pace in finalizing the Calgary slate may reflect how quickly the political landscape has shifted.
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“In January, no one wanted to run for the Liberals in Calgary because they were going to get wiped out,” Bratt said. “Now, there’s a scramble. Calgary Centre only got a candidate after the election was called. Confederation got theirs in the second week.”