Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi will seek the nomination in Rachel Notley's former riding of Edmonton-Strathcona for an upcoming byelection.
"Last year we became one of the largest provincial political parties in Canada and I became leader," wrote Nenshi in a statement published to X.
"I’ve gotten to know and work with a fantastic caucus of New Democrat MLAs. I’ve spent the last six months with the team listening to Albertans about their worries, their priorities, and their hopes."
The Alberta NDP experienced a recent win by reclaiming an MLA seat in Lethbridge.
Before entering politics, Nenshi worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. He then founded his own consulting firm, Ascend Group, which advised non-profit, private, and public sector organizations, including the United Nations on corporate citizenship.
Nenshi first entered politics in 2004, running unsuccessfully for a seat on Calgary's city council. His political breakthrough came in 2010 when he was elected mayor of Calgary, a position he held for three terms from 2010 to 2021.
During his tenure, he was known for his use of social media in political campaigns and was re-elected twice, in 2013 with 74% of the vote and in 2017 with 51%. He did not run for re-election in 2021 and was succeeded by Jyoti Gondek.
After stepping down as mayor, Nenshi returned to consulting but re-entered politics in March 2024 when he announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Alberta NDP.
"I believe Alberta New Democrats can be a thoughtful government-in-waiting with real solutions for Alberta families," said Nenshi in his statement.
"This doesn’t mean I’m leaving Calgary behind," he said. "While still proudly Calgarian, I’m already dividing my time between the two cities and I’m looking forward to learning more about Edmonton.
The Edmonton-Strathcona nomination meeting is on January 22.
