Naheed Nenshi candidacy could grow NDP, say his leadership rivals

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Naheed Nenshi’s entry into the Alberta NDP leadership race could expand the party’s reach and has already invigorated it, say some of his new rivals.

But at the same time, they question the party newcomer’s ability to deliver the seats they need to win the next election.

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“Will Nenshi’s entry into the race grow the party? I think it will,” said Edmonton MLA Rakhi Pancholi, who’s among six candidates vying to replace Leader Rachel Notley.

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“He does have big name recognition and a lot of people are excited . . . a lot of people are getting engaged.”

But at the same time, she wonders how the man who served as Calgary’s mayor from 2010 to 2021 will make a breakthrough in rural areas and in smaller cities, where the NDP currently holds only two seats.

“I haven’t heard anything yet on how he’d address that, though I know Calgary is his strong base of support,” said Pancholi.

On Monday, Nenshi fulfilled the expectations of many by announcing he’s seeking the Alberta NDP’s top job.

He dubbed himself an underdog due to his late entry into the contest.

Nenshi’s high profile means he’s no underdog, said Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Pancholi.

“I had to smile a little bit at that and, to be honest, his reach and name recognition doesn’t make him into an underdog,” she said.

But Nenshi’s presence abruptly sparked an uptick of donations to her campaign from supporters awakened by the challenge he poses, she said.

Leadership hopeful Sarah Hoffman said Nenshi’s announcement had a similar effect on her campaign.

“I definitely sold memberships on Monday for people who want to make sure a New Democrat leads the NDP,” said Hoffman, MLA for Edmonton-Glenora, who regards herself as the keeper of the party’s traditional values.

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Hoffman said she hopes her campaign sells at least 300 memberships a day.

Nenshi, she said, will attract those who want to alter what the party stands for.

“If you want a change candidate with no connection to Rachel Notley, he’s your candidate. If you want an NDPer leading the NDP, I’m your girl,” said Hoffman.

She said as premier, she would welcome an MLA Nenshi as a cabinet minister.

She now sees the contest as a race between him and her, partly by edging out the other Calgary-based hopeful, Kathleen Ganley.

Nenshi has the capability to grow the Alberta NDP, said Ganley, by adding excitement to the race.

“Nenshi has a lot of supporters, it’s whether or not he can convince them to buy memberships,” said the Calgary-Mountain View MLA.

“Honestly, I’m excited to see more people come forward . . . every candidate who comes forward is great, they have the opportunity to grow the party and there’s endless opportunities to sell memberships.”

She said the party counted 7,000 to 8,000 members before the end of 2023, when that number temporarily dipped from a lack of immediate renewals.

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Many people have since renewed their $10 memberships, she said, or been attracted by the leadership race that began Feb. 5 and ends June 22.

Nenshi says he’s ‘inviting more people in’ to NDP party

Nenshi’s campaign didn’t provide comment on Tuesday, but on the Ryan Jespersen show, the former mayor said his efforts are gaining an early traction by already signing up 10 times his most optimistic number for party memberships.

His candidacy, he said, is an opportunity to show Albertans “NDP values are their values as well.”

“We’re appealing to people within the party and we’re inviting more people in,” he said.

This leadership contest is set to be the largest in the party’s history and the first since it formed government in 2015. The party’s last leadership contest came in 2014 when it had just four MLAs, and fewer than 4,000 ballots were cast.

Some of Nenshi’s rivals said he brings both advantages for the party in Calgary and negative baggage from his three terms as mayor.

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“He has the potential to win some Calgary seats for us by (a larger margin) but we can also lose some,” said Hoffman.

Pancholi said she disagrees with some in the party and outside it that a Calgary-based leader is crucial in winning that decisive battleground.

“We didn’t lose the last election because of the postal code of the leader — people want to see a leader that’ll reflect the opportunities and interests of Calgarians,” she said.

Albertans weigh in on Nenshi candidacy

Chestermere resident Rowan Sargent said Nenshi’s candidacy is prompting him to do what he’s never done before — purchase an NDP membership.

“I just think Nenshi has the profile and intellect the other candidates don’t, though I think the others are good people,” said Sargent, calling him the best chance to “keep those nutty Conservatives out.”

But he said Nenshi might not appeal to hardcore NDP supporters, though that’s a quality he’d admire.

Calgarians Heather and Jim Turner say they’ll also purchase party memberships for the first time so they can vote for Nenshi.

“I liked him as our mayor and I believe he is a strong candidate who can stand up to the UCP and win,” said Heather Turner, who’s voted NDP in the past two elections.

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“I also think he would do a great job and stop these endless battles with Ottawa . . . we need some intelligence in government.”

Nenshi has shown the ability to reach across the aisle to compromise and appeal but that can be offset by a sense of arrogance, said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams.

“There’s enormous potential there but the temptation to arrogance can really damage him,” said Williams.

But an advantage in attracting more supporters to the NDP fold is rooted mostly in a possible perception that he’s the one able to defeat the UCP, she said.

Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who’s also thrown his hat into the ring, said he’s battling COVID-19 and chose not to comment.

Edmonton-Rutherford MLA Jodi Calahoo-Stonehouse’s campaign also didn’t comment.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn

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