Longtime Alberta NDP MLA Rod Loyola running for federal Liberals in new Edmonton Gateway riding

A longtime Alberta New Democrat MLA will be running for the federal Liberals in Edmonton.

Just one day after officially resigning his provincial seat, Rodrigo Loyola has announced he will be running in the federal riding of Edmonton Gateway.

“This federal race is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes,” Loyola said in a Facebook post, reference the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In that post, Loyola calls Liberal Leader Mark Carney “a steadfast and proven leader who has already made monumental progress as the first Edmontonian prime minister — cutting the carbon tax, expanding dental care to all eligible Canadians, and making EI more efficient to protect Canadian workers.

“Mark Carney and a Liberal government is what we need right now to build a stronger, more sustainable, and equitable Canada — one that addresses the needs of Albertans and advances the interests of all Canadians.”

Loyola’s resignation in Edmonton-Ellerslie — where he was elected in 2015, 2019 and 2023 — sparked what will be the third Alberta byelection since that 2023 provincial vote.

Former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley stepped down in December, paving the way for new leader Naheed Nenshi to run in a byelection in Edmonton-Strathcona that has yet to be called.

Earlier last year, NDP MLA Rob Miyashiro won the seat vacated by former NDP minister Shannon Phillips in the Lethbridge-West riding in a byelection.

Edmonton Gateway is a new federal riding along with Edmonton Southeast, which replaced Edmonton Millwoods.