Muhammad Amanullah — September 15, 2026
A major political upset has taken place in Alberta, where the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) defeated the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) in a provincial byelection.
In the Calgary-Shaw byelection held Monday night, NDP candidate Kyle Campbell defeated UCP candidate Mike Dery by more than 500 votes, winning a seat that had widely been expected to remain with the governing party.
The result has attracted significant attention in Alberta politics because Calgary-Shaw had been held by the UCP since 2019 and was considered one of the party’s strong seats.
UCP Suffers Major Setback
The Calgary-Shaw constituency includes the communities of Shawnessy, Somerset, Silverado, Yorkville, Belmont, Pine Creek, Chaparral, Walden, Wolf Willow and Legacy.
The riding had been without representation in the provincial legislature since May, when former UCP cabinet minister Rebecca Schulz resigned from her seat.
Schulz had won the riding by a comfortable margin in 2019 and retained it by more than 3,000 votes in the 2023 provincial election. Against that backdrop, the NDP victory in the byelection is being viewed as an unusual political shift.
Kyle Campbell Secures Victory
NDP candidate Kyle Campbell made healthcare a central issue during his campaign, focusing on improving public healthcare and providing residents with better access to services.
UCP candidate Mike Dery, who comes from the oil and gas sector, highlighted inflation, public spending, education, healthcare and government transparency during his campaign.
Result Announced After a Close Race
The final result was not immediately clear after the initial vote count, as the race remained extremely close. However, after advance ballots were counted shortly after 10:30 p.m., Campbell’s victory became clear.
Campbell defeated Dery by more than 500 votes, prompting NDP leaders to describe the result as an important victory for the party in Alberta’s provincial politics.
Naheed Nenshi’s Key Statement
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi described the close contest as a success for his party even before the final result was confirmed.
Nenshi said the result showed that no Conservative seat in Calgary should now be considered completely safe.
His comments came as the initial vote count showed a tight race between the candidates of the two major parties.
Political Experts Watching Closely
Mount Royal University political scientist Keith Brownsey described the Calgary-Shaw byelection as an important political measure.
According to Brownsey, the UCP had generally been expected to retain the seat. However, even without a decisive victory, a closer-than-expected result could have indicated a shift in public sentiment.
The NDP’s eventual victory has now raised questions about the governing party’s popularity and the strength of its support across Alberta.
Danielle Smith Reacts
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith congratulated Kyle Campbell on social media shortly after the result was announced and thanked UCP candidate Mike Dery for his role in the campaign.
Smith said Calgary-Shaw voters had made their decision and that her UCP government would work constructively with the riding’s new MLA to address the needs of the community.
Important Result Ahead of Referendum
The Calgary-Shaw byelection took place at a politically significant time, with Alberta also preparing for a referendum on October 19 concerning whether the province should remain part of Canada.
For that reason, the byelection result is being closely watched in the context of Alberta’s broader political climate and changing voter sentiment.
The NDP victory has added further momentum to discussions about whether traditionally strong Conservative support in Calgary is beginning to shift and whether those changes could influence future political decisions.
Voter Turnout
Before election day, a total of 6,955 voters cast ballots during advance voting, representing approximately 16.4 per cent of eligible voters.
The figure was lower than in the 2023 provincial election, when 9,798 voters participated in advance voting, representing 24.8 per cent of eligible voters at the time.
The NDP’s victory in Calgary-Shaw is therefore not only a significant loss for the UCP but is also being viewed as an important indicator of changing voter trends in Calgary and the potential direction of Alberta politics ahead.
