Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi announces bid for Alberta NDP leadership

Following weeks of speculation, former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has officially entered the race to be the next leader of the Alberta NDP.

“I’m Naheed Nenshi, and I’m running to be leader of the Alberta NDP and your next premier,” he said in a video posted online on Monday.

“Together, we can beat Danielle Smith and the UCP.”

In the video, Nenshi targeted the premier and her government while contrasting the plight of Albertans in areas of health care, climate-related phenomena and affordability.

“I had six premiers while I was mayor, different ideologies, different levels of competence,” Nenshi said in a one-on-one interview with Global News. “I’ve never seen anything like this: a government this incompetent, a government this dangerous, this immoral. I realized I had to get engaged in anyway I can.”

Rumours about Nenshi’s candidacy began to swirl after the contest to replace outgoing leader Rachel Notley was announced earlier this year.

In his video announcement, Nenshi said he wanted to “build on the tremendous legacy of Rachel Notley and all of those who worked hard for this party.”

Hi, I’m Naheed Nenshi. I’m running to be the leader of Alberta’s NDP and the next premier of this province.

I can’t do this without your support. Visit https://t.co/OqpFCojIcF to buy a membership and sign up as a supporter.

We can do this. Together. For Alberta. For all of us. pic.twitter.com/PjWUxnwhhT

— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) <a href=«https://twitter.com/nenshi/status/1767264019621327294?ref_src=» https:>March 11, 2024

Nenshi is the sixth candidate to enter the race so far along with Calgary-Mountain View MLA Kathleen Ganley, Edmonton-Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman, Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Rahki Pancholi, Edmonton-Rutherford MLA Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse