Ridings to watch: Hottest contested areas around Edmonton

Thousands of Albertans hit the polls Monday, with thousands more voting in advanced polls.

While Calgary has been the main battleground for both the United Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party of Alberta, Edmonton has a few key ridings that will not be easily won.

In and around Edmonton, 31 seats are up for grabs.

Edmonton-Strathcona

One of the more obvious picks for places to watch is Edmonton-Strathcona, which features NDP Leader Rachel Notley.

In 2006, Notley was first nominated to fill the NDP seat in this riding. Two years later, she won her first seat as an MLA and has held the seat ever since.

In 2019, it was a commanding win for Notley, who picked up 72.1 per cent of the votes. The next closest candidate at the time was the UCP’s Kulshan Gill, who picked up 17 per cent of the votes.

Notley’s biggest win came in 2015, when she won 82.4 per cent of the votes in her riding, and became the premier of Alberta.

Notley is facing Emad El-Zein of the UCP, Robert Gooding-Townsend of the Alberta Green Party, Andrew Jacobson of the Buffalo Party, and Robert Nielsen of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition.

Edmonton-South West

Edmonton South-West is going to be a key battleground in the provincial election, as Kaycee Madu, who is the former Justice Minister and was most recently Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions and Deputy Premier, seeks re-election.

In 2019, Madu picked up 45 per cent of the votes in the riding, topping NDP candidate John Archer by 715 votes.

Madu has made several headlines over the last four years, most notably when he was investigated for allegedly phoning Edmonton’s police chief regarding a traffic ticket in March 2021.

RELATED:

• Madu report finds Alberta minister did not interfere with traffic ticket but tried to

• Premier asks Alberta justice minister to step aside for phoning police chief about ticket

More recently, Madu has backed Danielle Smith’s plan on the sovereignty act, saying it was not a power grab.

In addition, he said it was appropriate for his boss to phone up a pastor and discuss his upcoming criminal trial on charges stemming from protests over pandemic restrictions.

This election, Madu faces Jeff Cullihall of the Alberta Green Party and Nathan Ip of the NDP.

Edmonton South

In Edmonton South, Thomas Dang, another MLA who made several headlines over the last four years, has decided not to seek re-election.

He was dropped by the NDP after he was charged for hacking Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine website.

RELATED:

• MLA Thomas Dang fined $7.2K for hacking COVID-19 vaccine records portal

• Alberta Independent MLA Thomas Dang pleads guilty to Health Information Act breach

• Alberta MLA charged in hacking case won’t return to NDP caucus or seek re-election

The 2023 election for Edmonton South will be fought for by Joseph Angeles of the UCP, Chryssy Beckmann of the Alberta Green Party, and Rhiannon Hoyle of the NDP.

Sherwood Park

Sherwood Park is going to be vital for both the UCP and NDP as two seats are up for grabs — Sherwood Park and Strathcona-Sherwood Park.

In 2015, the NDP won both ridings, picking up 52 per cent and 42.6 per cent of votes respectively.

In 2019, the UCP was able to flip both ridings, picking up 45.4 per cent and 52.5 per cent of votes respectively.

According to 338Canada, both ridings are once again being strongly considered as toss ups.

The UCP’s Jorden Walker is looking to keep his seat in Sherwood Park. He faces Kyle Kasawski of the NDP, Jacob Stacey of Alberta’s Liberal Party, and Sue Timanson of the Alberta Party.

The UCP’s Nate Glubish will also look to hold his seat in Strathcona-Sherwood Park. He faces Jody Balanko, an independent. and Bill Tonita of the NDP.

St. Albert

St. Albert is also going to be crucial in the election, also with two seats up for grabs — St. Albert and Morinville-St. Albert.

Both ridings are also strongly considered neck and neck.

In the 2019 election, NDP candidate Marie Renaud managed to retain her seat. Gaining 160 votes from the 2015 election, Renaud saw a closer battle in 2019, as the voter percentage dropped from nearly 54 per cent to 46 per cent.

Renaud will look to once again hold her seat, this time facing Cameron Jefferies of the Alberta Green Party and Angela Wood of the UCP.

As for Morinville-St. Albert, UCP candidate Dale Nally claimed 50 per cent of votes last time around, but is expected to face a tougher battle this year.

Nally faces Kurt Klingbeil of the Alberta Green Party, Wayne Rufiange of the Alberta Party, and Karen Shaw of the NDP.