Publication date: November 08, 2022 • 0 minutes ago • 2 minutes read • 7 comments Brooks voters participate in an advanced vote in the Brooks-Medicine Hat elections on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Polling day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Gavin Young /Postmedia

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New Alberta Premier Danielle Smith appears headed for a victory in the Brooks-Medicine Hat primary.

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With more than half of the constituencies reporting, the United Conservative Party leader had a significant lead in her field. Sign up to receive daily news headlines from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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As of 9:18 p.m., with 55 of 76 polls reporting, Smith led by 3,173 votes (51.3 percent). NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk had 1,765 votes (28.5 per cent) and Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita had 1,085 votes (17.5 per cent). Residents of southeastern Alberta voted Tuesday in the by-election that will determine whether Smith wins a seat in the legislature. Polling stations closed at 8pm and full results are expected by 10pm Smith, who won the UCP leadership last month, called off the 28-day election campaign immediately after being sworn in. Two local candidates try to play spoiler in the crucial race – Morishita, the former mayor of Brooks, and Dirk, a retired Medicine Hat teacher.

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Also on the ballot are two far-right candidates, Bob Blayone with The Independence Party and Jeevan Mangat with the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta. In advance polls last week, 4,231 riding residents voted, or 12.4 percent of eligible voters in the riding. That turnout is down from the 2019 general election, when 22 percent of the riding’s voters cast ballots before Election Day.

What’s next for Smith after the primary?

Smith is running in tonight’s by-election because she is not a sitting MLA. He is considered a heavy favorite in the traditionally conservative district.

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Smith called the Brooks-Medicine Hat primary after former MLA Michaela Frey resigned to open the job. He decided not to run in the already vacant riding of Calgary-Elbow, which will remain unfilled until the scheduled May 2023 general election. Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams told Postmedia Monday Smith needs a “decisive” victory to consolidate her leadership of the UCP. If he were to lose, he would have to call a second election to contest a seat or govern out of the legislature — both options that Williams described as unpalatable. A big win would help Smith begin moving forward on some of her leadership campaign plans, Williams said, including the Alberta Sovereignty Act. As proposed by Smith, this act would allow Alberta to opt out of federal policies and decisions it deems to be against the province’s interests. “It would certainly give her some breathing room to try to present her agenda, to have the first session of the legislature with her to really present her proposals to address the concerns that Albertans have,” Williams said. More to come. [email protected] Twitter: @jasonfherring

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