Former Wildrose party leader Danielle Smith will hold a press conference Thursday morning as she kicks off her campaign to be the next leader of the UCP..Smith said she would run for the leadership several weeks ago as she announced she would seek the UCP nomination in Livingstone-Macleod..“I would like to thank Premier Jason Kenney for his commitment to public service and for his historic contribution to uniting the right in Alberta," said Smith Wednesday night..“The result we have witnessed today is a truly grassroots resolution. The membership of the United Conservative Party is hungry for a leader that will be responsive and fight for the interests of Alberta.".“I will be holding a press conference tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. on Zoom. For my full statement and to have any questions answered about my path going forward, please tune in.”.UCP members voted 51.4% in favour of his leadership, but Kenney said the margin is too tight to justify his continued leadership and announced his resignation..Kenney had previously said he would be satisfied with a slim margin on a win saying it would still be a mandate from Albertans to continue his leadership, so many people were not expecting Kenney to step down..His resignation announcement came as a total surprise. According to Western Standard reporter Rachel Emmanuel, even Kenney's own party staffers were taken completely by surprise..Kenney's 2017 leadership win over rival Brian Jean is still being probed by the RCMP..Jean could not be reach for comment Wednesday night.
