How is the United Conservative Party leadership race shaping up?

Eight United Conservative Party leader candidates are in the ring now, all vying to be Alberta’s next top conservative.

A ninth says she’s seriously considering tossing her name into the hat as well.

Long-time Calgary Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner tweeted, “Our province needs hope, a positive vision for the future, and a Conservative leader who can inspire Albertans and win.”

Rempel Garner added she’s been encouraged to seek UCP leadership and is considering it.

“She doesn’t carry any of the baggage about being associated with the Kenney government as many of the other Ministers do, like Travis Toews, Rajan Sawney, Leela Aheer, or Rebecca Schulz. She wasn’t involved in the fighting like a Brian Jean, so she comes in with a fresh face,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.

“On the other hand, there has been fresh faces coming in from federal politics like Jim Prentice and Jason Kenney who haven’t done very well.”

Read More:

• Michelle Rempel Garner considers UCP leadership run to replace Kenney

• Alberta UCP announces rules for contest to replace leader, premier

• Calgary cabinet minister running to replace Jason Kenney as UCP leader, premier

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Rempel Garner announced she will no longer be co-chairing Patrick Brown’s federal leadership campaign.

Bratt says it may be an indication she doesn’t believe Brown will win, and she may look to run provincially instead.

“I think she’s also hurt her relationship with Pierre Poilievre, I think a lot of her federal ambitions have been shut off for whatever reason and so, I think that is why she is considering provincial politics now,” Bratt said.

If Rempel Garner enters the contest, she’ll be up against ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney, former Wildrose leaders Brian Jean and Danielle Smith, MLAs Leela Aheer, Todd Lowen, and Amisk Mayor Bill Rock.

“It’s going to get less crowded in about a month — July 20, I believe is the first installment of the application fee. It’s a deadline for when you have to bring in your application and a $50,000 cheque. I think the herd will thin by then,” Bratt said.

“I don’t think Michelle Rempel Garner is one of them who’s going to be constrained by the entry fee, but I think some of the others will be because it’s quite high, it’s double what it was back in 2017.”