Nenshi has `more pizzazz' than others in race: expert

“This government doesn't know how to make deals ... it's like watching junior high or elementary school kids fighting,” said Nenshi.

Nenshi, 52, served as Calgary's mayor from 2010 to 2021 and saw his share of the popular vote fall from 74 per cent in the 2013 municipal election to 51 per cent in his last run for the city's top job in 2017.

He joins the race along with Edmonton MLAS Sarah Hoffman, Rakhi Pancholi and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, Calgary MLA Kathleen Ganley and Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil Mcgowan.

Before his candidacy announcement, Ganley's campaign lashed out at Nenshi, questioning his ties and loyalty to the NDP.

Nenshi said he's not interested in remaking the NDP in his image.

“I'm coming here with the utmost humility and respect . ... I wasn't there when there were just two or four MLAS and doing the work of building the party,” he said, adding he's confident he can widen the NDP'S appeal.

“We need more people to come on the journey and to respect their values.”

And he wouldn't rule out running solely as an MLA should he not win the leadership contest, saying it would depend on the winner and their approach to him.

“I take up a lot of oxygen in the room — the leader might appreciate that or that I take much more of a background (role),” said Nenshi.

Nenshi's entrance is a game-changer that significantly heightens the notoriety of the leadership race, said Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt. Nenshi is a household name in battleground Calgary and has wider recognition across the province and countrywide — something that can't be said for most of the other challengers.

“He's got greater name recognition and more pizzazz than any of the other candidates,” Bratt said.

Another political scientist, MRU'S Lori Williams, said there's “no question” the other candidates consider Nenshi a strong contender in the race despite his lack of ties to the party — something she said may reduce his popularity among longtime or more left-leaning NDP members.

“But for those who are more pragmatic, more concerned about having a strong leader, a strong party and a contender in the next election, I think his presence in the race will be quite welcome,” she said.

While Nenshi has received an early vote of confidence from Calgary NDP MLA Court Ellingson, who is co-chairing his campaign, Bratt doesn't believe Nenshi will see as much caucus support as other candidates.

“The question is, does he bring people who are not traditional NDP voters into the party?” Bratt said.

This leadership race 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.

Under the leadership of Rachel Notley, who served as Alberta's premier from 2015 to 2019, the NDP rose to become a contending political force, though the party lost the past two provincial elections to the UCP.

Notley announced Jan. 16 that she'd be stepping down as leader.

The party will choose a new leader June 22.

The question is, does he bring people who are not traditional NDP voters into the party?