Doug Horner will not run for PC leadership
Finance Minister Doug Horner has confirmed that he will not enter the PC leadership race.
“After careful consideration, and weighing all of the options with my wife and family, I have decided not to step forward as a candidate in the upcoming Progressive Conservative leadership race,” he wrote in a release Thursday evening.
Horner said he was was “humbled” by those who wanted him to run, but will continue his role as Finance minister for the province, as well serving as MLA for Spruce Grove-St. Albert.
However, Horner said he is confident “the right candidate will emerge.”
“As I have said, I firmly believe that the right person to lead our party and our province going forward is someone who has the ability to bring our Caucus together as a team, to unite our party, to earn the trust of Albertans, and to provide strong and thoughtful leadership,” he said.
There are two candidates officially in the race – former Infrastructure minister Ric McIver and former Municipal Affairs
minister Ken Hughes.
Former federal MP Jim Prentice has a campaign team in place and is raising money but has yet to officially announce a run.
- Ric McIver to run in Alberta PC leadership race
- 'Stay tuned' says Jim Prentice about Alberta Tory leadership
- Ken Hughes 1st candidate for Alberta PC leadership
Tories will vote in September to replace Alison Redford, who resigned last month amid a caucus revolt.
You can read Horner's full message below: