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Danielle Smith is still UCP leader and premier of Alberta. On Saturday, she tightened her grip on the party by surviving a vote that her predecessor did not.
Before the vote was over, Smith pleaded for unity.
“Hold accountable our MLAs, most especially me, to keep us on track. But let us not sink to the level of our opponents by attacking and vilifying one another or breaking into factions,” said Danielle Smith, Alberta Premier.
Smith not only topped the 54% she received in the 2022 leadership race, it seems she’s added supporters since becoming premier and leading the UCP to its second-straight election win.
“You never get 100% for any leader but I’m very supportive of Danielle Smith. She’s a good listener,” said Dr. David Chalack, UCP member.
“We wanted to support Danielle Smith because she’s freeing this province up,” said Herb Stroesser, UCP member.
The last time UCP members voted on a leader, Jason Kenney decided to quit after receiving just 51.4% approval.
“Whatever she’s doing right now and has been doing is making our province better and stronger,” said Richard Goulet, UCP member.
There were rumblings Smith may be in similar trouble with some arguing her bill of rights amendments and new transgender restrictions don’t go far enough.
But all weekend in Red Deer, the “yes to keeping Smith” supporters were louder and more visible than her critics. Despite a rough report card being circulated by the far-right, Take Back Alberta, which upset about the skybox ticket scandal.
“There’s a lot of corruption going on in the government right now. I am anti-corruption. That’s how I lived most of my life, fighting corruption. Found it with Redford, fought it with Kenney, I’m going to fight it with her,” said David Parker, Take Back Alberta.
Some in Red Deer said there was no one to take over for Smith anyway. Several of her former leadership race rivals appeared on stage with the premier Friday complimenting her and wearing pins encouraging votes to keep her on.
If Smith manages to hold onto to the UCP leadership and win her second general election in 2027, she’d be the first Alberta premier to win consecutive votes since Ralph Klein won 4 straight in 2004.
Smith and her team can now turn their focus back to the legislature. The Alberta bill of rights amendment act and 3 other bills affecting trans rights have been introduced and are expected to be pass by MLA vote in the next few weeks.