Calgary NDP candidate Kyle Campbell wins Shaw byelection by 582 votes
Campbell's victory in the longtime Conservative stronghold marks the UCP's first-ever byelection loss and signals shifting voter sentiment in the south Calgary riding.
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Kyle Campbell has won the Calgary-Shaw byelection, defeating UCP candidate Mike Derry by 582 votes in a race that upended Alberta's political map. Campbell received 7,461 votes to Derry's 6,879 in the September 14 vote, capturing a riding the UCP has held since 2019.
The victory is the UCP's first-ever byelection loss. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called it a political earthquake, noting the party had lost the seat by 40 points in 2019. "This shows that there is no safe conservative seat in Calgary," Nenshi told Postmedia.
Campbell, a first-time candidate and president of the Somerset Residents' Association until recently, is an insurance and finance professional. He won 51 percent of advance votes—3,560 of 6,951 cast early.
The byelection was triggered by Rebecca Schulz's resignation. Schulz, a former UCP cabinet minister, is now an executive at a major Alberta oil and gas producer.
Derry said his campaign had volunteers door-knocking throughout the race. In conceding, he acknowledged Campbell's team effort: "It does truly take a team." Campbell told supporters: "Even when we were behind, it was like this is still a great story that our hard work paid off. This amazing sweep at the end was just tremendous."
The NDP last won Calgary-Shaw in 2015 during the "orange wave" that brought Rachel Notley to government. The byelection occurs just over a month before an October 19 provincial referendum.
What do the results mean for provincial confidence in Premier Danielle Smith heading into the October referendum?
Will the NDP target other Calgary ridings in the fall provincial election?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Who won the Calgary-Shaw byelection?
Kyle Campbell, an NDP candidate and insurance and finance professional, won the byelection on September 14, 2026.
By how many votes did Campbell win?
Campbell defeated UCP candidate Mike Derry by 582 votes, receiving 7,461 votes to Derry's 6,879.
Why was the byelection held?
The byelection was triggered by Rebecca Schulz's resignation; Schulz, a former UCP cabinet minister, is now an executive at a major Alberta oil and gas producer.
When was the last time the NDP won Calgary-Shaw?
The NDP last won Calgary-Shaw in 2015 during the 'orange wave' that brought Rachel Notley to government.
