List of Alberta by-elections

The list of Alberta by-elections includes every by-election held in the Canadian province of Alberta. By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly, although an imminent general election may allow the vacancy to remain until the dissolution of parliament. Until 1926 incumbent members were required to recontest their seats upon being appointed to Cabinet. These Ministerial by-elections were almost always uncontested.

31st Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2023–present

Main article: By-elections to the 31st Alberta Legislature

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Lethbridge-West	December 18, 2024	Shannon Phillips		New Democratic	TBD		TBD	Resigned for personal reasons.	TBD

30th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2019–2023

Main article: By-elections to the 30th Alberta Legislature

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Brooks-Medicine Hat	November 8, 2022	Michaela Frey		United Conservative	Danielle Smith		United Conservative	Resigned to provide a seat for new UCP leader and Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith.	Yes
Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche	March 15, 2022	Laila Goodridge		United Conservative	Brian Jean		United Conservative	Resigned to run federally in Fort McMurray—Cold Lake; elected.	Yes

29th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2015–2019

Main article: By-elections to the 29th Alberta Legislature

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Fort McMurray-Conklin	July 12, 2018	Brian Jean		United Conservative	Laila Goodridge		United Conservative	Resigned several months after losing the UCP leadership election to Jason Kenney.	Yes
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake	July 12, 2018	Don MacIntyre		United Conservative	Devin Dreeshen		United Conservative	Resigned after being charged with sexual interference with a minor.	Yes
Calgary-Lougheed	December 14, 2017	Dave Rodney		United Conservative	Jason Kenney		United Conservative	Resigned to provide a seat for new UCP leader Jason Kenney	Yes
Calgary-Greenway	March 22, 2016	Manmeet Bhullar		Progressive Conservative	Prabhdeep Gill		Progressive Conservative	Killed in highway accident	Yes
Calgary-Foothills	September 3, 2015	Jim Prentice		Progressive Conservative	Prasad Panda		Wildrose	Disclaimed seat and resigned as party leader following government's defeat in general election	No

28th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2012–2015

Main article: By-elections to the 28th Alberta Legislature

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Calgary-West	October 27, 2014	Ken Hughes		Progressive Conservative	Mike Ellis		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes
Calgary-Foothills	October 27, 2014	Len Webber		Independent	Jim Prentice		Progressive Conservative	Resignation to run federally. Independent MLA originally elected as PC.	No
Edmonton-Whitemud	October 27, 2014	Dave Hancock		Progressive Conservative	Stephen Mandel		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes
Calgary-Elbow	October 27, 2014	Alison Redford		Progressive Conservative	Gordon Dirks		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes

27th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2008–2012

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Calgary-Glenmore	September 14, 2009	Ron Stevens		Progressive Conservative	Paul Hinman		Wildrose Alliance	Resignation to be appointed a judge	No

26th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2004–2008

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Drumheller-Stettler	June 12, 2007	Shirley McClellan		Progressive Conservative	Jack Hayden		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes
Calgary-Elbow	June 12, 2007	Ralph Klein		Progressive Conservative	Craig Cheffins		Liberal	Resignation	No

25th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 2001–2004

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Wainwright	April 8, 2002	Robert Fischer		Progressive Conservative	Doug Griffiths		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes

24th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1997–2001

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Red Deer-North	September 25, 2000	Stockwell Day		Progressive Conservative	Mary Anne Jablonski		Progressive Conservative	Resignation to run federally	Yes
Edmonton-Highlands	June 12, 2000	Pam Barrett		New Democratic	Brian Mason		New Democratic	Resignation	Yes
Edmonton McClung	June 17, 1998	Grant Mitchell		Liberal	Nancy MacBeth		Liberal	Resignation	Yes

23rd Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1993–1997

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Redwater	May 21, 1996	Nicholas Taylor		Liberal	Mary Anne Balsillie		Liberal	Appointed to the Senate	Yes
Calgary-McCall	April 20, 1995	Harry Sohal		Progressive Conservative	Shiraz Shariff		Progressive Conservative	Death	Yes

22nd Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1989–1993

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Three Hills	October 26, 1992	Connie Osterman		Progressive Conservative	Don MacDonald		Liberal	Resignation	No
Calgary-Buffalo	July 21, 1992	Sheldon Chumir		Liberal	Gary Dickson		Liberal	Death	Yes
Little Bow	March 5, 1992	Raymond Speaker		Progressive Conservative	Barry McFarland		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes
Edmonton-Strathcona	December 17, 1990	Gordon Wright		New Democratic	Barrie Chivers		New Democratic	Death	Yes
Stettler	May 9, 1989	Brian C. Downey		Progressive Conservative	Don Getty		Progressive Conservative	Resignation to provide a seat for Premier Getty, after he lost his seat in the general election.	Yes

21st Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1986–1989

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Chinook	November 23, 1987	Henry Kroeger		Progressive Conservative	Shirley McClellan		Progressive Conservative	Death	Yes

20th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1982–1986

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Edmonton-Whitemud	December 11, 1985	Robert Keith Alexander		Progressive Conservative	Don Getty		Progressive Conservative	Resignation to provide a seat for Premier Getty after his election as PC leader.	Yes
Spirit River-Fairview	February 21, 1985	Grant Notley		New Democratic	Jim Gurnett		New Democratic	Death (airplane crash)	Yes

19th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1979–1982

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Olds-Didsbury	February 17, 1982	Robert C. Clark		Social Credit	Gordon Kesler		Western Canada Concept	Resignation	No
Barrhead	November 21, 1979	Hugh Horner		Progressive Conservative	Ken Kowalski		Progressive Conservative	Resignation	Yes

18th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1975–1979

no by-elections

17th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1971–1975

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Calgary-Foothills	June 25, 1973	Len Werry		Progressive Conservative	Stewart McCrae		Progressive Conservative	Death	Yes
Stettler	February 14, 1972	Jack Robertson		Progressive Conservative	Graham Harle		Progressive Conservative	Death	Yes

16th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1967–1971

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Edson	October 28, 1969	William Switzer		Liberal	Robert Wagner Dowling		Progressive Conservative	Death	No
Strathcona East	February 10, 1969	Ernest Manning		Social Credit	William Yurko		Progressive Conservative	Resignation concurrent with his retirement as Premier.	No
Lac La Biche	August 20, 1968	Michael Maccagno		Liberal	Damase Bouvier		Social Credit	Resignation to run federally	No

15th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1963–1967

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Pincher Creek-Crowsnest	October 6, 1966	William Kovach		Social Credit	Garth Turcott		New Democratic	Death	No
Edson	March 29, 1965	Norman Willmore		Social Credit	William Switzer		Liberal	Death	No
Three Hills	January 20, 1964	Petrie Meston		Social Credit	Roy Davidson		Social Credit	Death	Yes

14th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1959–1963

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Bonnyville	November 27, 1961	Karl Nordstrom		Social Credit	Romeo Lamothe		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Peace River	October 26, 1961	William Gilliland		Social Credit	Euell Montgomery		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Medicine Hat	January 19, 1961	Elizabeth G. Robinson		Social Credit	Harry Leinweber		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Didsbury	November 30, 1960	James Lawrence Owens		Social Credit	Robert Curtis Clark		Social Credit	Death	Yes

13th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1955–1959

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Olds	February 9, 1959	Frederick Niddrie		Social Credit	Roderick Macleod		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Calgary	October 2, 1957	Arthur Ryan Smith		Conservative	Ernest Watkins		Conservative	Resignation to run federally	Yes
Stettler	November 15, 1956	John Etter Clark		Social Credit	Galen Norris		Social Credit	Death (Committed suicide after murdering seven people)	Yes

12th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1952–1955

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Red Deer	February 15, 1954	David A. Ure		Social Credit	Cam Kirby		Conservative	Death	No
Medicine Hat	December 21, 1953	John Lyle Robinson		Social Credit	Elizabeth G. Robinson		Social Credit	Death	Yes

11th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1948–1952

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Grouard	June 21, 1951	John Barrett Wood		Social Credit	Joseph Desfosses		Liberal	Resignation	No
Olds	November 16, 1950	Norman E. Cook		Social Credit	Frederick Niddrie		Social Credit	Death	Yes

10th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1944–1948

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Warner	August 6, 1945	Solon Earl Low		Social Credit	Leonard Halmrast		Social Credit	Resignation to run federally	Yes

9th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1940–1944

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Red Deer	December 16, 1943	Alfred Speakman		Independent	David A. Ure		Social Credit	Death	No
Edmonton	September 22, 1942	David Milwyn Duggan		Independent	Elmer Ernest Roper		Cooperative Commonwealth	Death	No
Camrose	February 6, 1941	David Bertrum Mullen		Social Credit	Chester Sayers		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Vegreville	June 20, 1940†	George Woytkiw		Social Credit	Solon Earl Low		Social Credit	Resignation to provide a seat for Low	Yes

† Won by acclamation

8th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1935–1940

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Athabasca	November 7, 1938	Charles Cathmer Ross		Social Credit	Clarence Tade		Social Credit	Death	Yes
Lethbridge	December 2, 1937	Hans Wight		Social Credit	Peter M. Campbell		Unity	Resignation	No
Edmonton	October 7, 1937	George Van Allen		Liberal	Edward Leslie Gray		Liberal	Death	Yes
Grouard	December 7, 1936	Leonidas Giroux		Liberal	Joseph Tremblay		Liberal	Death	Yes
Edmonton	June 22, 1936	William R. Howson		Liberal	Walter Morrish		Liberal	Appointed a judge	Yes
Okotoks-High River	November 4, 1935†	William Morrison		Social Credit	William Aberhart		Social Credit	Resignation to provide a seat for Aberhart	Yes
Athabasca	November 4, 1935†	Clarence Tade		Social Credit	Charles Cathmer Ross		Social Credit	Resignation to provide a seat for Ross	Yes

† Won by acclamation

7th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1930–1935

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Calgary	January 15, 1934	George Harry Webster		Liberal	William Henry Ross		Liberal	Death	Yes
Calgary	January 19, 1933	Harold McGill		Conservative	Norman Hindsley		Independent	Appointed Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs	No
Camrose	October 25, 1932	Vernor Smith		United Farmers	Chester Ronning		United Farmers	Death	Yes
Red Deer	November 16, 1931	George Wilbert Smith		United Farmers	William Ernest Payne		Conservative	Death	No
Edmonton	January 9, 1931	Charles Yardley Weaver		Conservative	Frederick Jamieson		Conservative	Death	Yes

6th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1926–1930

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Medicine Hat	May 1, 1928	Charles Pingle		Liberal	Hector Lang		Liberal	Death	Yes

5th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1921–1926

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Medicine Hat	September 29, 1925	William Johnston		Dominion Labor	Charles Pingle		Liberal	Death	No
Edmonton	October 27, 1924	John R. Boyle		Liberal	William Thomas Henry		Liberal	Resignation. Appointed a judge	Yes
Grouard	July 11, 1924	Jean Côté		Liberal	Leonidas Giroux		Liberal	Resignation. Appointed to the Senate	Yes
Calgary	January 15, 1923	Robert Chambers Edwards		Independent	William McCartney Davidson		Independent	Death	Yes
Whitford	July 10, 1922	Andrew Shandro		Liberal	Mike Chornohus		United Farmers	Result of previous election voided.	No
Sedgewick	July 10, 1922†	Charles Stewart		Liberal	Albert Andrews		United Farmers	Resignation. Appointed to the federal cabinet	No
Ribstone	July 10, 1922	Charles O. Wright		United Farmers	William Farquharson		United Farmers	Death	Yes
Vermilion	December 9, 1921†	Richard Gavin Reid		United Farmers	Richard Gavin Reid		United Farmers	Sought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Health and Municipal Affairs	Yes
Ponoka	December 9, 1921†	Percival Baker		United Farmers	John Edward Brownlee		United Farmers	Death	Yes
Peace River	December 9, 1921†	Donald MacBeth Kennedy		United Farmers	Herbert Greenfield		United Farmers	Resignation to provide a seat for Premier Greenfield and to run federally	Yes
Okotoks	December 9, 1921†	George Hoadley		United Farmers	George Hoadley		United Farmers	Sought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Agriculture	Yes
Medicine Hat	December 9, 1921†	Perren Baker		United Farmers	Perren Baker		United Farmers	Sought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Education	Yes
Camrose	December 9, 1921†	Vernor Smith		United Farmers	Vernor Smith		United Farmers	Sought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Railways and Telephones	Yes
Calgary	December 9, 1921†	Alex Ross		Dominion Labor	Alex Ross		Dominion Labor	Sought re-election upon appointment as Minister of Public Works	Yes

† Won by acclamation

4th Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1917–1921

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Athabasca	June 3, 1920	Alexander Grant MacKay		Liberal	George Mills		Liberal	Death	Yes
Cochrane	November 3, 1919	Charles W. Fisher		Liberal	Alexander Moore		United Farmers	Death	No
Red Deer	October 28, 1918	Edward Michener		Conservative	John Gaetz		Liberal	Appointed to the Senate	No
Grouard	October 21, 1918†	Jean Côté		Liberal	Jean Côté		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Provincial Secretary	Yes
Athabasca	September 27, 1918†	Alexander Grant MacKay		Liberal	Alexander Grant MacKay		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Minister of Municipal Affairs	Yes
Vermilion	November 19, 1917†	Arthur Sifton		Liberal	Arthur Ebbett		Liberal	Appointed to the federal cabinet	Yes
Camrose	November 9, 1917	George P. Smith		Liberal	George P. Smith		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Provincial Secretary	Yes

† Won by acclamation

3rd Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1913–1917

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Whitford	March 15, 1915	Andrew Shandro		Liberal	Andrew Shandro		Liberal	Void Election	Yes
Wetaskiwin	November 17, 1914	Charles H. Olin		Liberal	Hugh John Montgomery		Liberal	Death	Yes
Beaver River	December 15, 1913†	Wilfrid Gariépy		Liberal	Wilfrid Gariépy		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Minister of Municipal Affairs	Yes
Bow Valley	June 12, 1913†	George Lane		Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell		Liberal	Resignation to provide a seat for Mitchell	Yes

† Won by acclamation

2nd Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1909–1913

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Sturgeon	May 27, 1912	John R. Boyle		Liberal	John R. Boyle		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Minister of Education	Yes
Sedgewick	May 27, 1912	Charles Stewart		Liberal	Charles Stewart		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Minister of Municipal Affairs	Yes
Edmonton	May 27, 1912	Charles Wilson Cross		Liberal	Charles Wilson Cross		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Attorney General	Yes
Claresholm	May 27, 1912	Malcolm McKenzie		Liberal	Malcolm McKenzie		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Provincial Treasurer	Yes
Cardston	May 27, 1912	John William Woolf		Liberal	Martin Woolf		Liberal	Resignation	Yes
Pincher Creek	October 31, 1911	David Warnock		Liberal	John Kemmis		Conservative	Resignation to run federally	No
Lethbridge City	October 31, 1911	William Ashbury Buchanan		Liberal	John Smith Stewart		Conservative	Resignation to run federally	No
Gleichen	October 31, 1911	Archibald J. McArthur		Liberal	Harold Riley		Conservative	Death	No
Calgary	October 31, 1911	R. B. Bennett		Conservative	Thomas Tweedie		Conservative	Resignation to run federally	Yes
Macleod	October 3, 1910	Colin Genge		Liberal	Robert Patterson		Farmers*	Death	No
Gleichen	October 3, 1910	Ezra Riley		Liberal	Archibald J. McArthur		Liberal	Sought reelection in protest against the leadership of the Liberal Party	Yes
Vermilion	June 29, 1910	Archibald Campbell		Liberal	Arthur Sifton		Liberal	Resignation to provide a seat for Premier Sifton	Yes
Medicine Hat	June 29, 1910	William Finlay		Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell		Liberal	Resignation	Yes
Lethbridge District	June 22, 1910†	Archibald J. McLean		Independent Liberal	Archibald J. McLean		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Provincial Secretary	No
Olds	November 23, 1909	Duncan Marshall		Liberal	Duncan Marshall		Liberal	Sought reelection upon appointment as Minister of Agriculture	Yes

† Won by acclamation

*Patterson was elected with Conservative support and sat as a Conservative in the Legislature

1st Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1905–1909

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause	Retained
Lethbridge	January 8, 1909†	William Simmons		Liberal	Donald McNabb		Labour	Resignation to run federally	No
Gleichen	December 7, 1906	Charles Stuart		Liberal	Ezra Riley		Liberal	Appointed a judge	Yes
Vermilion	July 16, 1906†	Matthew McCauley		Liberal	James Bismark Holden		Liberal	Appointed Warden of Edmonton Penitentiary	Yes
Lethbridge	April 12, 1906	Leverett DeVeber		Liberal	William Simmons		Liberal	Appointed to the Senate	Yes

† Won by acclamation

See also

• List of federal by-elections in Canada

References

• "Past By-Election Results". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on 2009-06-07. Retrieved 2013-07-10.