Ontario Liberal candidate pledges leadership run
If elected MPP in three days, Liberal candidate David Henderson will put his name forward to succeed Premier Kathleen Wynne as leader of the embattled Ontario Liberal Party, Henderson said Monday morning.
He made the comments in a brief media event convened in the wake of Wynne’s surprise statement on the weekend in which she acknowledged she will not win Thursday’s provincial election.
Wynne urged voters nonetheless to support local Liberals in order to prevent Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford or the New Democratic Party’s Andrea Horwath from leading a majority government.
Henderson said Monday Wynne’s acknowledgment amounted to a de facto resignation as Liberal leader.
“Kathleen Wynne has effectively stepped down as the leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario following this election,” said Henderson.
As a result, if sent to Queen’s Park, he will seek the leadership of what remains of the Liberal caucus.
“We will rebuild the Liberal party with a pragmatic plan that builds Ontario up, that helps everybody in this province and makes it strong economically,” said Henderson.
He is running for the Liberals in Leeds- Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes against Tory incumbent Steve Clark, New Democrat Michelle Taylor and the Green party’s Derek Morley.
Wynne admitted Saturday that her party won’t form government after Thursday’s election, but pleaded with voters at least to elect some Liberals. She warned about what an NDP or Progressive Conservative majority government would bring, and pitched votes for the Liberals as a way to keep either of those parties in check.
The premier did not specifically announce her resignation as Liberal leader.
The surprise move forced some rapid shifting of gears among riding-level campaigns, including Henderson’s decision to announce a potential leadership bid.