Naheed Nenshi candidacy could grow NDP, say his leadership rivals

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Naheed Nenshi’s entry into the Alberta NDP management race might develop the get together’s attain and has already invigorated it, say a few of his new rivals.

However on the identical time, they query the get together newcomer’s capacity to ship the seats they should win the subsequent election.

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“Will Nenshi’s entry into the race develop the get together? I believe it’s going to,” stated Edmonton MLA Rakhi Pancholi, who’s amongst six candidates vying to switch Chief Rachel Notley.

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“He does have large title recognition and lots of people are excited . . . lots of people are getting engaged.”

However on the identical time, she wonders how the person who served as Calgary’s mayor from 2010 to 2021 will make a breakthrough in rural areas and in smaller cities, the place the NDP at the moment holds solely two seats.

“I haven’t heard something but on how he’d tackle that, although I do know Calgary is his sturdy base of help,” stated Pancholi.

On Monday, Nenshi fulfilled the expectations of many by asserting he’s searching for the Alberta NDP’s prime job.

He dubbed himself an underdog attributable to his late entry into the competition.

Nenshi’s excessive profile means he’s no underdog, stated Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Pancholi.

“I needed to smile a bit bit at that and, to be sincere, his attain and title recognition doesn’t make him into an underdog,” she stated.

However Nenshi’s presence abruptly sparked an uptick of donations to her marketing campaign from supporters woke up by the problem he poses, she stated.

Management hopeful Sarah Hoffman stated Nenshi’s announcement had the same impact on her marketing campaign.

“I undoubtedly offered memberships on Monday for individuals who need to make sure that a New Democrat leads the NDP,” stated Hoffman, MLA for Edmonton-Glenora, who regards herself because the keeper of the get together’s conventional values.

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Hoffman stated she hopes her marketing campaign sells a minimum of 300 memberships a day.

Nenshi, she stated, will entice those that need to alter what the get together stands for.

“In order for you a change candidate with no connection to Rachel Notley, he’s your candidate. In order for you an NDPer main the NDP, I’m your lady,” stated Hoffman.

She stated as premier, she would welcome an MLA Nenshi as a cupboard minister.

She now sees the competition as a race between him and her, partly by edging out the opposite Calgary-based hopeful, Kathleen Ganley.

Nenshi has the potential to develop the Alberta NDP, stated Ganley, by including pleasure to the race.

“Nenshi has a whole lot of supporters, it’s whether or not or not he can persuade them to purchase memberships,” stated the Calgary-Mountain View MLA.

“Truthfully, I’m excited to see extra individuals come ahead . . . each candidate who comes ahead is nice, they’ve the chance to develop the get together and there’s infinite alternatives to promote memberships.”

She stated the get together counted 7,000 to eight,000 members earlier than the top of 2023, when that quantity quickly dipped from an absence of quick renewals.

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Many individuals have since renewed their $10 memberships, she stated, or been attracted by the management race that started Feb. 5 and ends June 22.

Nenshi says he’s ‘inviting extra individuals in’ to NDP get together

Nenshi’s marketing campaign didn’t present touch upon Tuesday, however on the Ryan Jespersen present, the previous mayor stated his efforts are gaining an early traction by already signing up 10 instances his most optimistic quantity for get together memberships.

His candidacy, he stated, is a chance to point out Albertans “NDP values are their values as effectively.”

“We’re interesting to individuals throughout the get together and we’re inviting extra individuals in,” he stated.

This management contest is ready to be the most important within the get together’s historical past and the primary because it shaped authorities in 2015. The get together’s final management contest got here in 2014 when it had simply 4 MLAs, and fewer than 4,000 ballots had been solid.

A few of Nenshi’s rivals stated he brings each benefits for the get together in Calgary and destructive baggage from his three phrases as mayor.

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“He has the potential to win some Calgary seats for us by (a bigger margin) however we are able to additionally lose some,” stated Hoffman.

Pancholi stated she disagrees with some within the get together and out of doors it {that a} Calgary-based chief is essential in profitable that decisive battleground.

“We didn’t lose the final election due to the postal code of the chief — individuals need to see a frontrunner that’ll replicate the alternatives and pursuits of Calgarians,” she stated.

Albertans weigh in on Nenshi candidacy

Chestermere resident Rowan Sargent stated Nenshi’s candidacy is prompting him to do what he’s by no means completed earlier than — buy an NDP membership.

“I simply assume Nenshi has the profile and mind the opposite candidates don’t, although I believe the others are good individuals,” stated Sargent, calling him the very best probability to “maintain these nutty Conservatives out.”

However he stated Nenshi won’t attraction to hardcore NDP supporters, although that’s a top quality he’d admire.

Calgarians Heather and Jim Turner say they’ll additionally buy get together memberships for the primary time to allow them to vote for Nenshi.

“I favored him as our mayor and I consider he’s a robust candidate who can stand as much as the UCP and win,” stated Heather Turner, who’s voted NDP previously two elections.

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“I additionally assume he would do an important job and cease these infinite battles with Ottawa . . . we’d like some intelligence in authorities.”

Nenshi has proven the flexibility to succeed in throughout the aisle to compromise and attraction however that may be offset by a way of vanity, stated Mount Royal College political scientist Lori Williams.

“There’s huge potential there however the temptation to vanity can actually harm him,” stated Williams.

However a bonus in attracting extra supporters to the NDP fold is rooted largely in a doable notion that he’s the one capable of defeat the UCP, she stated.

Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who’s additionally thrown his hat into the ring, stated he’s battling COVID-19 and selected to not remark.

Edmonton-Rutherford MLA Jodi Calahoo-Stonehouse’s marketing campaign additionally didn’t remark.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn

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