Canadians across the country were watching the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, AB, byelection Monday night, where United Conservative Party candidate Tara Sawyer won in a landslide over Alberta independence party leader Cameron Davies.The riding, historically considered a UCP stronghold, saw 13,476 valid ballots cast, with Sawyer securing 7,709 votes (57.2%), followed by NDP’s Bev Toews with 2,496 votes (18.5%) and Republican Party of Alberta leader Cameron Davies with 2,122 votes (15.8%). The byelection was triggered by the resignation of former MLA Nathan Cooper, who left to accept a federal appointment. Meanwhile, up in Edmonton–Strathcona, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi secured a seat in the Alberta legislature, winning 6,036 votes (85.3%) compared to UCP challenger Darby Crouch, who garnered 1,037 votes (14.7%). Nenshi, acclaimed as party leader in June 2024, now solidifies his leadership as Leader of the Official Opposition. The seat was vacated by former NDP leader and premier Rachel Notley earlier this year.In Edmonton–Ellerslie, the NDP also held its ground, with candidate Gurtej Singh Brar winning 5,407 votes (61.2%). UCP’s Naresh Bhardwaj came in second with 2,800 votes (31.7%), while other parties split the remainder..The campaign in Olds–Didsbury–Three Hills was marked by controversy after Premier Danielle Smith appointed Sawyer as the UCP candidate without holding a nomination race. The local chamber of commerce canceled a scheduled debate after only separatist leader Cameron Davies confirmed attendance. In Edmonton–Strathcona, the spotlight was on Nenshi, who was under pressure to deliver a decisive win after skipping last year’s Lethbridge–West byelection. The win not only places the former Calgary mayor in the legislature, but secures his credibility as party leader heading into the next general election.Across all three ridings, voter participation varied significantly. According to Elections Alberta:Olds–Didsbury–Three Hills had 38,554 registered electors, up slightly from 2023. Advance turnout was 13.0%, with 5,014 votes cast ahead of election day.Edmonton–Strathcona saw 29,676 eligible voters, with advance turnout dropping sharply to 10.2%, down from 24.8% in 2023.Edmonton–Ellerslie recorded 34,187 electors, with advance votes falling to 10.3%, down from 24.8% during the 2023 general election.Official results are expected to be certified by Thursday, July 3, 2025.
