WINNIPEG — In a move signaling a major shift for the New Democratic Party (NDP), filmmaker and activist Avi Lewis has been elected as the party’s new leader. Emerging victorious in a high-stakes leadership race concluded on March 29, 2026, Lewis secured 56% of the total votes on the first ballot. He earned 39,734 out of the 70,930 ballots cast, comfortably crossing the threshold needed for a decisive win.
Lewis defeated several prominent contenders in the race. Alberta MP Heather McPherson finished in second place with approximately 29.5% of the vote. Other candidates, including social worker Tanille Johnston, union leader Rob Ashton, and farmer Tony McQuail, trailed further behind. The victory for Lewis—a third-generation NDP figure following his father Stephen Lewis and grandfather David Lewis—represents a move toward more “unabashedly left-wing” policies within the party.
The leadership contest was triggered by the resignation of former leader Jagmeet Singh following the NDP’s significant losses in the April 2025 federal election. During that election, the party’s representation plummeted to just seven seats, causing it to lose official party status in the House of Commons for the first time in decades. The situation grew even more precarious earlier this month when Nunavut MP Lori Idlout defected to the Liberal Party, further reducing the NDP’s parliamentary presence to just six seats.
Lewis now faces the formidable challenge of rebuilding a party that has been pushed to the political sidelines. In his victory speech at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, he emphasized that party unity is his top priority as they look toward renewal. He called for a government that “works for the many, not the money,” signaling a focus on economic justice and aggressive climate action.
Despite the pressure to regain a foothold in Parliament, Lewis stated that he is in no immediate rush to run for a seat in the House of Commons. Instead, he plans to focus his energy on strengthening the party from the grassroots level. By fostering internal cohesion and re-engaging with the base, Lewis aims to build a unified front capable of making a strong comeback in future federal contests.
