Conservatives control Calgary again, Liberals claim single seat

The Conservative Party maintained its longstanding dominance in Calgary in tonight's federal election, capturing 10 of the city's 11 ridings.

But the Liberals managed to break through in Calgary Confederation, with Corey Hogan claiming the win in one of the tightest races of the night over Conservative candidate and former Alberta provincial cabinet minister Jeremy Nixon.

"I am looking forward to being a strong Alberta voice in the government caucus, and making sure that Alberta issues are well understood," Hogan said. 

"And, that we can mend a bit what has been historically a bit of a divide between ... corporate Calgary and downtown Ottawa. I think that there's a lot we can do to improve relations there."

George Chahal, who was the lone Liberal to claim a seat in Calgary in 2021 in Skyview, transitioned to the newly-drawn riding of Calgary McKnight for this election. He was defeated by Conservative Dalwinder Gill, a local real estate agent.

Had he won, Chahal would have become Calgary's first-ever two-term Liberal MP. 

This year, polling suggested the Liberals were in the lead in Calgary McKnight, while Calgary Skyview, Calgary Centre and Calgary Confederation were competitive races. 

"The Liberals were only able to win one of those seats," said veteran pollster Janet Brown. 

"As I've always said, polls tend to underestimate conservatives in Alberta and it seems that that's the case again."

In what was thought to be a highly contested seat, Conservative incumbent Greg McLean was victorious in Calgary Centre over Liberal Lindsay Luhnau.

Speaking prior to the results being confirmed, McLean said he was pleased to see positive results unfolding for Conservatives in Calgary.

"It is a city that has been held back by this Liberal government's policies. I have to wonder, what do Calgarians have to see to understand that the Liberal government is not moving this province forward, is not moving this city forward?" he said.

The Conservatives also easily held onto their territory in Calgary Signal Hill, Calgary Heritage, Calgary Shepard and other ridings, where candidates skated by with double-digit victories.

Monte Solberg, a Conservative cabinet member under former prime minister Stephen Harper, said the threat of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump changed the conversation this election season.

"However, it is interesting and, as an Alberta conservative, heartening that the beating heart of conservatism is still alive in the big cities in Alberta, and still a reliable source of votes for conservative leaders," he said.

Normally a foregone conclusion on election night, Alberta became an area of focus for the Liberal and Conservative parties as the campaign played out. 

Liberal Leader Mark Carney visited the Red & White Club at McMahon Stadium in early April, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a rally at a hangar near the Calgary airport late last week.

Carney was due to make a second appearance in Calgary on Sunday, but cancelled that event in the wake of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival killings in Vancouver.

Other southern Alberta ridings

The rest of southern Alberta also went Conservative blue.

In Lethbridge, former mayor Chris Spearman wasn't able to become the first-ever Liberal candidate to win the solidly-blue riding, which was once again claimed by Conservative incumbent Rachel Thomas.

"It's ultimately just such an honour and a joy. I really look forward to it," Thomas said.

Meanwhile, the massive federal riding of Yellowhead, which was redrawn ahead of the 2025 election, was claimed by Conservatives William Stevenson by a big margin. The riding covers a large section of western and central Alberta, including the towns of Banff, Canmore, Jasper, Hinton, Edson, Rocky Mountain House, Carstairs and Sundre.

Longtime Conservative incumbent MP Blaine Calkins was dubbed the victor in the riding of Ponoka-Didsbury. The Conservatives also won by big numbers in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, Foothills and Bow River.