Calgary-Glenmore NDP MLA Nagwan Al-Guneid won't seek re-election

Nagwan Al-Guneid, the NDP MLA for Calgary-Glenmore, will not seek re-election in next fall's provincial vote. Al-Guneid was first elected in 2023, when she defeated longtime UCP incumbent Whitney Issik. She currently serves as opposition critic for energy and minerals.

"After a great deal of thought and reflection, I have made the difficult decision that I will not seek a second term in the next provincial election," Al-Guneid said in a statement. She added that public service extends beyond holding elected office: "There are many ways to contribute, and I look forward to continuing to serve Alberta in a different capacity in the future."

Al-Guneid brought a corporate energy background to the legislature. Before entering politics, she worked as a corporate communications advisor at TotalEnergies' oilsands division, as government relations manager at Energy Futures Lab, and as director of the Business Renewables Centre Canada. She received the Young Women in Energy award in 2020 and was named to Avenue Magazine Calgary's "Top 40 Under 40" list in 2022.

Her departure announcement comes as the Alberta NDP has gained momentum. In the Calgary-Shaw byelection held September 13, NDP candidate Kyle Campbell defeated UCP incumbent Mike Derry by 582 votes. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the result "a political earthquake," noting that the party lost the Shaw seat by 40 points in the 2019 general election. "This shows that there is no safe conservative seat in Calgary," Nenshi said.

Al-Guneid remains committed to the NDP's future. "I was inspired to enter politics by the pragmatism and compassion of the Rachel Notley government," she said. "I remain committed to helping elect the next Alberta NDP government under future premier Naheed Nenshi. We will keep Calgary-Glenmore in the hands of people who believe in pragmatic, responsible, and compassionate leadership."