Conservatives control Calgary again, Liberals lead in 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 Liberal candidate Corey Hogan holds a slim lead in Calgary Confederation over Conservative candidate and former Alberta provincial cabinet minister Jeremy Nixon with one poll remaining to be counted early Tuesday morning.

"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. 

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

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.