3 Edmonton ridings to watch on election night
Alberta appears likely to turn its usual Conservative blue on election night, but some races in Edmonton might be close calls for Tory incumbents.
In 2019, New Democrat Heather MacPherson was the only non-Conservative to win a capital region seat after two Liberal incumbents went down to defeat.
This year, it's Conservative MPs who are facing potentially tight local races.
Here are three Edmonton ridings to watch on election night.
EDMONTON CENTRE
Candidates:
- Randy BOISSONNAULT - Liberal
- Brock CROCKER - PPC
- James CUMMING - Conservative (incumbent)
- Merryn EDWARDS - Marxist - Leninist
- Valerie KEEFE - Libertarian
- Heather MACKENZIE - NDP
This will be the third straight meeting between Randy Boissonnault and James Cumming.
Cumming was defeated by fewer than 1,200 votes in 2015 before gathering 41 per cent of the vote to unseat Boissonault in 2019.
Prior to that it had been a Conservative seat for the past three elections.
Former public school board trustee and Ward 6 council candidate Heather MacKenzie represents the NDP.
The riding has produced close margins of victory twice in the past six contents: Boissonault’s win in 2015 and a 721 vote win by Liberal Anne McLellan.
EDMONTON GRIESBACH
Candidates:
- Alex BOYKOWICH - Communist
- Blake DESJARLAIS - NDP
- Kerry DIOTTE - Conservative (incumbent)
- Mary JOYCE - Marxist-Leninist
- Heather LAU - Green
- Thomas MATTY - PPC
- Habiba MOHAMUD - Liberal
- Morgan WATSON - Libertarian
Edmonton Griesbach was first contested in 2015 when Conservative Kerry Diotte scored a 3,000 vote victory over current New Democrat MLA Janis Irwin.
The former newspaper columnist and Edmonton city councillor is now seeking his third term in the north Edmonton riding.
His strongest challenger appears to be New Democrat Blake Desjarlais who was supported with an in-person visit from party leader Jagmeet Singh earlier this summer.
To win, he’ll have to reverse a trend that saw the number of NDP votes fall by more than 25 per cent in 2019 compared to 2015.
The Liberals appear to have a consistent level of support here which may further hinder any chance of an upset.
EDMONTON MILL WOODS
Candidates:
- Ben HENDERSON - Liberal
- Nigel LOGAN - NDP
- Paul MCCORMACK - PPC
- Naomi RANKIN - Communist
- Tim UPPAL - Conservative (incumbent)
Edmonton Mill Woods was one of the closest races in the country when it was first contested in 2015 as Liberal Amarjeet Sohi squeaked out a 92 vote victory over Conservative Tim Uppal.
Four year later, Uppal regained the seat with an 8,800-vote margin of victory.
This year, the Liberals are banking on outgoing Edmonton city councillor Ben Henderson to muster more support.
Henderson has served on city council since 2007 but has represented an area outside of the Edmonton Mill Woods riding as Ward 8 councillor.
NDP candidates have received about 12 per cent of votes cast in both of the last two elections.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.