Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership elections


This page lists the results of leadership elections held by the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. After the defeat of the party's first leader in the 1949 general election and until 1966 the party leadership was officially vacant and the House leader served as de facto party leader.

1949 leadership convention

Mews was defeated in the 1949 general election and resigned sometime afterward. John Gilbert Higgins was elected House leader and became the first post-Confederation Leader of the Opposition. Higgins retired at the 1951 general election, and Peter Cashin was elected House leader afterwards. Cashin resigned on January 26, 1953, and Malcolm Hollett was elected to succeed him. Hollett was defeated in the 1959 general election and James J. Greene was elected as his replacement. Greene resigned on January 14, 1966, and Noel Murphy was chosen acting leader.

1966 leadership convention

Murphy was defeated in the 1966 general election and Gerry Ottenheimer was elected House leader.

1967 leadership convention

Ottenheimer resigned on November 11, 1969. Party President William Marshall was made interim leader and Anthony Joseph Murphy was chosen House leader.

1970 leadership convention

First Ballot:
Second Ballot :
Third Ballot :
First Ballot:
Second Ballot :
Third Ballot :
Verge was defeated in the 1996 general election and Sullivan was appointed interim leader.

1998 leadership convention

Williams resigned as premier and party leader on December 3, 2010. Kathy Dunderdale was chosen interim leader and premier.

2011 leadership convention

March 2014

2018 leadership convention

For the first time in the party's history, the voting was conducted through a one-member, one-vote points system, which divided the province into forty districts worth a hundred points each. The points were allocated based on each candidates share of the popular vote.
Candidate
NamePoints
Ches Crosbie2,298.92
57.47%
Tony Wakeham1,701.08
42.53%
Total points4,000.00