NDP dominates Edmonton as UCP wins Alberta election

The NDP's sweep of Edmonton in Alberta's election solidified throughout Tuesday morning.

As of 7 a.m., the party led by Rachel Notley had been elected or was leading in all capital city ridings.

All polls had finished reporting save Edmonton-City Centre, which was sitting at 92.3 per cent counted. Still, the NDP's David Shepherd had a 52-per cent lead over UCP candidate Richard Wong.

Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party won a majority government in Alberta late Monday night. However, the NDP managed to win several seats in the province's 87-seat legislature previously held by the United Conservatives, including in Sherwood Park and Calgary.

Among such seats was Edmonton-South West, where Nathan Ip defeated UCP deputy premier Kaycee Madu by earning 56.5 per cent of the vote. Madu earned 42.2 while Green Party candidate Jeff Cullihall earned 1.3 per cent.

"It's still sinking in, but I'm elated. I'm deeply honoured," Ip, an Edmonton Public School Board vice-chair and trustee, told CTV News Edmonton late Monday evening.

Describing the 28-day campaign as gruelling, he added, "I'm excited to get to work for the people of Edmonton-South West. Tomorrow, I'm going to pack up my campaign office and start thinking about what the transition will look like. But maybe after that I'll take a break."

Edmonton-South West was the lone Edmonton riding the United Conservatives won in 2019, with Madu receiving just under 45 per cent of the vote and the NDP's candidate, John Archer, trailing behind at less than 42 per cent.

Madu did not speak to media Monday evening.

He was a member of cabinet in both former premier Jason Kenney's and Danielle Smith's governments. He last served as the minister of skilled trades and professions. In February 2022, he lost his job as justice minister in for calling Edmonton's police chief after receiving a distracted driving ticket.

Notley handily won her Edmonton-Strathcona riding with 79.7 per cent of the vote. The UCP's Emad El-Zein won 17.3 per cent and the Green Party's Robert Gooding-Townsend 1.9 per cent.

The NDP also flipped a riding in Sherwood Park and held its seat in St. Albert.

CTV News declared the win for Danielle Smith's UCP at 11 p.m. Monday.

The UCP currently holds 49 seats and the NDP has been declared the winner in 38 ridings.

Majority government is formed with 44 seats.

This is a developing news story. More to come…