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2019 Prince Edward Island general election

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27 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 14 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout	76.28%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Dennis King Peter Bevan-Baker Wade MacLauchlan Party Progressive Conservative Green Liberal Leader since 9 February 2019 3 November 2012 21 February 2015 Leader's seat Brackley-Hunter River New Haven-Rocky Point Ran in Stanhope-Marshfield (lost) Last election 8 seats, 37.39% 1 seat, 10.81% 18 seats, 40.83% Seats before 8 2 16 Seats won 13 8 6 Seat change 5 6 10 Popular vote 30,415 25,302 24,346 Percentage 36.73% 30.56% 29.40% Swing 0.66% 19.75% 11.43%
Popular vote by district. As this is a FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead by the result in each district. District names are listed at the bottom. The results of the deferred Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park election are included in a separate inset.
Premier before election Wade MacLauchlan Liberal Premier after election Dennis King Progressive Conservative

The 2019 Prince Edward Island general election was held to elect the members of the 66th General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The vote in 26 of the 27 districts was held on 23 April 2019, while the vote for the member from Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park was deferred to 15 July due to the death of the Green Party's candidate. However, Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park still voted in a referendum on electoral reform. Natalie Jameson won the deferred election in the district.

The Progressive Conservatives under new leader Dennis King won thirteen seats (including the deferred seat) to form a minority government. The Greens under leader Peter Bevan-Baker won eight seats to form the Official Opposition. The Liberals under Premier Wade MacLauchlan were reduced to six seats and MacLauchlan lost in his own district. The Progressive Conservatives' share of the popular vote was steady at 37%, the Green Party enjoyed a 20 point increase to 31%, and the Liberals' share dropped 11 points to 30%. The Greens won several seats in or near the two cities of Charlottetown and Summerside, while the Progressive Conservatives took several more rural seats from the Liberals.

A referendum on electoral reform that asked Islanders if they wished to adopt a mixed-member proportional representation voting system was held in conjunction with the election. The initiative failed to pass in at least 60% of the districts as required under provincial legislation to proceed so the province did not change from the first past the post system in subsequent elections. As well, the Island-wide popular vote showed about 51% of voters voted to stay with the current first-past-the-post voting system while about 49% voted for the proposed change.

The election was the first time since the 1890 Prince Edward Island general election that the province elected a minority government, the first time in the province's history that a significant number of voters turned to a third party besides the dominant Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, and the first time that a Green Party reached official opposition status in any Canadian provincial legislature.

Background

Under the provisions of the Prince Edward Island Elections Act, an election was required by the fixed date of 7 October 2019, unless it was called earlier. After months of speculation of an early election call, Premier Wade MacLauchlan announced the election at a rally on 26 March.

In the previous election, on 4 May 2015, the Liberal Party, led by Premier Wade MacLauchlan, was re-elected to a majority government, earning election in 18 out of the 27 ridings (and down 2 from their pre-election total). The official opposition Progressive Conservatives, under leader Rob Lantz, increased its seat count from 3 before the election to 8, despite Lantz losing in Charlottetown-Brighton. Meanwhile, the Green Party, under leader Peter Bevan-Baker, won its first ever seat, Bevan-Baker's, in Kellys Cross-Cumberland. The NDP were unable to win a seat, continuing their streak of being shut out of the legislature since 2000.

Despite the increase in the Progressive Conservatives' seat count, on 23 September of that year, Lantz stepped down as leader. Since Lantz's departure, The Progressive Conservatives held two leadership elections: one on 20 October 2017, selecting MLA James Aylward as their leader; and again on 9 February 2019, choosing Dennis King as their new leader following Aylward's announcement on 27 September 2018 his intention to resign when his successor was chosen.

Historical results from 1993 onwards

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Results

Source : electionspei.ca

Synopsis of results

1. "Section 4 - Provincial Electoral Districts Voting Statistics". Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of PEI - 2019 Provincial General Election (PDF). Elections Prince Edward Island. 2019. pp. 39–95. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
2. including spoilt ballots
3. minor political parties receiving less than 1% of the national popular vote are aggregated under "Other"; independent candidates are aggregated separately

  = open seat

  = turnout is above provincial average

  = incumbent re-elected in same riding

  = previously incumbent in another riding

  = other incumbent renominated

Results by region

Detailed analysis

Timeline

2015

• 4 May – The Liberal Party, led by Premier Wade MacLauchlan, wins a majority government and the Progressive Conservative Party forms the opposition. The Green Party, under leader Peter Bevan-Baker, wins its first ever seat, with Bevan-Baker winning Kellys Cross-Cumberland.
• 23 September – Progressive Conservative leader Rob Lantz resigns, effective that day.
• 15 October – Jamie Fox, MLA for Borden-Kinkora, is chosen as the Progressive Conservative interim leader, defeating opponent Darlene Compton.

2016

• 1 August – Liberal MLA for Summerside-Wilmot Janice Sherry resigns her seat.
• 17 October – Chris Palmer is elected in the Summerside-Wilmot by-election, retaining the seat for the Liberals.
• 27 October – Voting for the 2016 Plebiscite on Democratic Renewal, a non-binding referendum on changing the electoral system, begins.
• 7 November – Voting in the 2016 Plebiscite on Democratic Renewal ends, indicating mixed member proportional representation as the preferred choice for electing MLAs.
• 22 November – The Legislative Assembly does not adopt the Plebiscite on Democratic Renewal's results and instead approves a motion to hold a second referendum at the next provincial election.

2017

• 19 October – Liberal MLA for Charlottetown-Parkdale Doug Currie resigns his seat.
• 20 October – James Aylward, MLA for Stratford-Kinlock, is chosen as the Progressive Conservative leader, defeating opponent Brad Trivers.
• 27 November – Green candidate Hannah Bell wins the by-election to fill the seat of Charlottetown-Parkdale, doubling the Green caucus to two and becoming the first time in PEI politics, that a provincial third-party won a by-election.

2018

• 31 January – MLA for West Royalty-Springvale Bush Dumville leaves the Liberal Party, becomes an independent.
• 14 February – Anticipating an early General Election, the Greens call for potential candidates "to make themselves known".
• 7 April – Joe Byrne is elected leader of the New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island.
• 13 June – The Electoral System Referendum Act is passed by the Legislative Assembly, scheduling a referendum on electoral reform for the same date as the provincial election. Voters will be asked if they support Prince Edward Island changing its electoral system to mixed-member proportional representation.
• 17 September – Progressive Conservative leader James Aylward announces pending resignation, to take effect upon selection of successor.

2019

• 1 February – Campaign period for the electoral reform referendum begins, making an election likely for the spring.
• 9 February – Dennis King is elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island.
• 26 March – Premier Wade MacLauchlan advises Lieutenant Governor Antoinette Perry to dissolve the legislature and call an early election.
• 20 April – The election in the riding of Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park is formally delayed as a result of the death of Green Party candidate Josh Underhay.
• 23 April – General election held.
• 13 June – Deferred election date announced for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park.
• 6 July – Advance voting in Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park deferred election began, also took place on 8 and 12 July.
• 15 July – Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park deferred election held, Progressive Conservative candidate Natalie Jameson is elected.

Opinion polls

The following is a list of scientific opinion polls of published voter intentions.

Candidates

• Party leaders' names are in bold; cabinet ministers' names are in italics.
• Incumbents not running for re-election are denoted with a dagger †.

Cardigan

Malpeque

Charlottetown

Egmont

Notes

1. Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park's district election was delayed for July 15
2. ^ District 9 Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park's Green Party candidate Josh Underhay died on 19 April 2019.
3. District 4 Belfast-Murray River independent candidate Andy Clarey withdrew from the election on 19 April. Because he withdrew after the close of nominations, his name appeared on ballots. Votes cast for Clarey will be considered spoiled.
4. District 9 PC candidate Sarah Stewart-Clark withdrew her candidacy on 27 May.

References

1. Extension election for vacant seat, held 15 July 2019
2. "Saltwire | Prince Edward Island". Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
3. 15 July deferred election for vacant seat, won by Progressive Conservative candidate
4. ^ Neatby, Stu (27 March 2019). "P.E.I. voters heading to the polls April 23". The Guardian. Charlottetown, PEI. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
5. ^ "Byelection to be held in District 9 Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park due to death of candidate". The Guardian. 20 April 2019. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
6. Ross, Shane (20 April 2019). "P.E.I. Green candidate, son die in canoeing accident days before election". CBC News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
7. CBC (15 July 2019). "Clear win for PC's Natalie Jameson in P.E.I.'s deferred election, CBC projects". CBC News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
8. "Seven things to know about the P.E.I. election results" Archived 24 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. CTV News, 23 April 2019.
9. "PC minority, Green Opposition will be 'a new era in Island politics'" Archived 25 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. CBC News Prince Edward Island, 23 April 2019.
10. "Elections Act" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
11. Bissett, Kevin (17 March 2019). "Poll finds governing P.E.I. Liberals in trouble ahead of looming election". Global News. Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
12. Bissett, Kevin (27 March 2019). "Liberal premier calls Prince Edward Island election for April 23". North Bay Today. Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
13. ^ "Liberals win majority in P.E.I. election". CBC News. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
14. ^ "P.E.I. Progressive Conservative Leader Rob Lantz resigns as leader". CBC News. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
15. "Jamie Fox named Progressive Conservative interim leader". CBC News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
16. MacPhee, Nancy. "Janice Sherry calling it quits". The Guardian. No. 1 August 2016. Charlottetown, PEI. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
17. Wright, Teresa. "Chris Palmer wins Summerside-Wilmot with 42.3 per cent of the vote". The Guardian. No. 17 October 2016. Charlottetown, PEI. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
18. "Voting begins in P.E.I. plebiscite on electoral reform". CBC News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
19. Bradley, Susan (8 November 2016). "P.E.I. plebiscite results favour mixed member proportional representation". CBC News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
20. "Motion No. 80, Democratic renewal: a clear question and a binding vote". www.assembly.pe.ca. Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
21. Wright, Teresa (22 November 2016). "Motion urging P.E.I. government to honour electoral reform vote defeated". The Guardian. Charlottetown. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
22. "MEDIA RELEASE: Anticipating possible early election, PEI Green Party calls for potential candidates". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
23. Neatby, Stu (31 January 2019). "Election in the air: P.E.I. electoral reform referendum campaigning period begins Feb. 1". The Guardian. Charlottetown. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
24. Fraser, Sara (9 February 2019). "'The best is yet to come' says new P.E.I. PC leader Dennis King". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
25. Davis, Tony (6 July 2019). "Advance voting opens for P.E.I.'s deferred District 9 election". CBC News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
26. PEI, Liberal Party of (11 March 2019). "Residents will be all hands on deck to support the seventeenth member of our Liberal team. Congratulations to Ian MacPherson, Executive Director of the @PEIFishAssoc, on being nominated in District 4: Belfast - Murray River!". @PEILiberalParty. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
27. Robar, Michael (19 April 2019). "Independent candidate Andy Clarey drops out of P.E.I. election; ballots already printed". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
28. "Kevin Doyle to be Liberal candidate in Georgetown-Pownal district". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
29. ^ "P.E.I. Greens nominate two candidates in Kings County". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
30. "Perry, Millar will run for NDP in PEI". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
31. "Former Stratford deputy mayor accepts District 5 Liberal nomination". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
32. "Great night in Stratford tonight! Congratulations to our newly nominated candidates in D5 Mermaid-Stratford and D6 Stratford-Keppoch @me_mcinnis and @jsjaylward!". @PEIPCParty. 8 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
33. ^ "Speaker Buck Watts not running in next election". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
34. PEI, Liberal Party of (12 February 2019). "ICYMI: Here is our list of nominated candidates to date!". @PEILiberalParty. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
35. "Cory Deagle wins hotly contested PEI PC nomination in Montague - Kilmuir". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
36. "Tommy Kickham wins hotly contested Liberal nomination". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
37. ^ "Three P.E.I. New Democrats join election team". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
38. PEI, Liberal Party of (22 March 2019). "As the owner of a small business in rural #PEI, our new candidate is proud of our record of supporting job growth in communities across the Island. Congratulations to our favourite Jamie on the ballot in District 19: Borden - Kinkora, Jamie Stride!". @PEILiberalParty. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
39. ^ "P.E.I. Greens announce general election candidates for districts 19, 21, 22 and 23". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
40. "Greg Bradley to run for Green party in Brackley-Hunter River". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
41. ^ "Districts 14 & 16 Nomination Celebration and Kick-off". Green Party of PEI. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
42. ^ "Nomination Meeting: District 18 & 20". Green Party of PEI. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
43. Party, PEI PC (18 February 2019). "Congratulations, Kris! #PEI #peipoli". @PEIPCParty. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
44. ^ "Greens nominate five more candidates in Charlottetown, Stratford". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
45. Neatby, Stu (24 May 2019). "Some P.E.I. Green party members say Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park nominee selection overly secretive". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
46. "PC candidate withdraws from deferred election in Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park riding". The Guardian. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
47. "P.E.I. NDP nominates party leader Joe Byrne as first candidate". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
48. "Gord McNeilly nominated as Liberal candidate for Charlottetown-West Royalty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
49. "Angus Birt defeats former PC leadership candidate for Charlottetown-West Royalty nomination". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
50. "P.E.I. MLA hoping to develop a full slate of independent candidates". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
51. "NDP District 26 | NDP PEI". www.ndppei.ca. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
52. ^ "P.E.I. Green Party candidates nominated in Districts 24 and 25". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
53. "He's back: Herb Dickieson to run for NDP in next provincial election | CBC News". www.cbc.ca/pei. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
54. PEI, NDP (20 March 2019). "Congratulations to all Candidates Nominated tonight in Summerside. Garth Oatway (D21) Joan Gauvin (D19) and Dale Ryan (D27)". @ndp_pei. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
55. "PC Party nominates candidate for Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
56. "Coach, school teacher earns NDP nod for District 23, Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.

Further reading

• Desserud, Don (2019). "The 2019 Provincial Election in Prince Edward Island". Canadian Political Science Review. 13 (1): 123–149. doi:10.24124/c677/20191750. ISSN 1911-4125. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.

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See also: List of Prince Edward Island by-elections

• Elections in Prince Edward Island
• 2019 elections in Canada
• April 2019 events in Canada
• 2019 in Prince Edward Island