Lethbridge-West byelection results: NDP claim victory, Rob Miyashiro to become MLA

The NDP won Lethbridge-West's byelection Wednesday in the first real test for party leader Naheed Nenshi.

Former Lethbridge city councillor Rob Miyashiro for the NDP beat current city councillor John Middleton-Hope for the United Conservative Party by 1,150 votes, according to Elections Alberta's unofficial results.

Miyashiro earned 7,239 votes, while Middleton-Hope collected 6,089 votes and Layton Veverka for the Alberta Party came in a distant third with 233 votes.

In a victory speech Wednesday, Miyashiro thanked members of his campaign team, as well as former NDP MLA Shannon Phillips for her mentorship during the run up to the byelection.

"I'm honoured to carry on the fight for the people of Lethbridge-West," Miyashiro said.

"To the people out there who voted for the first time, to our longtime supporters and to those who didn't vote for me, I want you to know that I will work for you. I will fight for you and I will represent every one of you in the legislature."

More people voted in advance than they did on election day, with 6,665 people casting their ballots ahead of time and 5,539 people voting at various locations in the riding on Wednesday.

About 18 per cent of eligible voters cast their vote early. That figure is down from the 28.3 per cent that cast advance votes in the riding ahead of the 2023 election.

In total, 13,561 votes were tallied, with 1,357 votes coming by mobile or special ballot.

The NDP retained its seat in the first byelection in the province since Nenshi became party leader in June. The win represents the party's campaign under his leadership.

"Thank you for your support, thank you for making a bet on a better future," Nenshi said late Wednesday night after Miyashiro's victory speech.

Lethbridge-West has not had a representative in the legislature since Phillips resigned on July 1. Phillips held the seat since 2015, when she won as part of the orange wave that brought the NDP to power.

Miyashiro previously ran for the NDP in last year's general election, losing in the Lethbridge-East riding to current affordability and utilities minister Nathan Neudorf.