‘I'm not going anywhere:' Defeated MP Matthew Green is gearing up for a NDP rebuild — and another election race
Matthew Green lost his
latest political bout in Hamilton Centre
, but he's already eying the next round — both for himself and the battered New Democratic Party.
The 44-year-old lost his lower city seat — once considered a New Democratic stronghold — in a federal election that
wiped out the NDP across Ontario
and left the orange party with just seven MPs across the country.
The same political earthquake
crumbled the party's hopes to retake Hamilton Mountain
with star candidate Monique Taylor, a longtime MPP who left her provincial seat to pursue a failed federal bid.
Monique Taylor lost her bid for Hamilton Mountain in a federal election that wiped out the NDP in Ontario.
Local political pundits called Green's loss to Liberal Mississauga resident Aslam Rana shocking — particularly for a charismatic MP spurring chatter among New Democrats as a possible future party leader.
'That seat should have been safer than just about any other (NDP riding) in the country,' said local political-scientist Chris Erl after the election results came in. 'But I don't think Matthew Green is done. I think it would be very difficult to keep someone like him down … There's a lot of opportunity in politics.'
In a post-result interview, Green said he did not see the loss as a 'personal rejection' by voters, but rather the result — at least in part — of constant
tariff and annexation threats
by U.S. President Donald Trump that 'changed the entire trajectory of the election.'
'It wasn't even like trying to swim against the current; it was more like trying to stop the tide,' said the outgoing MP. 'The local campaign could not overcome the national collapse.'
Taylor was not available for an interview for this story, but previously related a similar story to The Spectator on election night.
'I'm not shocked,' she said of the result that saw her finish a surprising third behind both the Liberals and Conservatives. She said many voters 'ran to the polls' to support whichever party leader they thought best suited to the moment, rather than for or against the best prospective MP. 'They felt it was most important to vote for the leader.'
Green said he met many erstwhile supporters at the door who were convinced by new Liberal Leader Mark Carney's sales pitch that only he could take on the unpredictable U.S. president.
'People would say they appreciate (our) work, they agree with the party, but in this moment they absolutely had to vote for Mark Carney,' he recalled. 'We had to remind a lot of people that Carney was not on the ballot, and that this is not a two-party system.'
The astounding Liberal comeback — which followed historic polling lows under former prime minister Justin Trudeau — was possible in part because of the NDP's participation in a supply-and-confidence agreement propping up the minority government dating back to 2022.
In theory, the New Democrats could have forced an earlier election by withdrawing support from the minority government — but Green said he had no regrets. He noted the contentious partnership helped deliver a national dental care program — and potentially prevented a Conservative majority predicted by pollsters last year.
'I think it was an ethical decision we made not to do that, to not hand (Tory Leader) Pierre Poilievre a supermajority, which is what I think would likely have happened,' he said.
'I've said it before, if I could deliver 9,000 people in Hamilton (free) dental care and not get re-elected, I'm OK with it.'
New Democrat MP Matthew Green lost his Hamilton Centre seat in Monday's election — but he is already gearing up for the next fight.
That said, Green sounds like he is gearing up for a rematch — and perhaps sooner rather than later, given it is rare for a minority government to last a full four years.
'I'm of this city, I'm from this city and I'm not going anywhere,' said the longtime community activist. 'I'm a proud Hamiltonian and I am going to continue to serve … I would imagine in 18 short months we could be back at the polls, ready to take on Mr. Rana again.'
Green, who got his start in politics as a city councillor, appeared to
rule out a mayoral run next year,
arguing his eye is on issues that require 'national leadership' like the economy, housing and support for workers. 'I believe we need a working-class party in Parliament and now, we don't have that … we have two conservative parties.'
He didn't rule out a run for the now-vacant NDP leadership during his chat with The Spectator, but argued his focus is on rebuilding a 'more inclusive' party less focused on 'personality brands' or 'trying to recreate the 20-year-old wins of (the late former leader) Jack Layton.'
Right now, he said rebuilding the NDP and its vision for the country is the top priority.
'I plan on being part of the debrief, I plan on being part of whatever leadership race happens, regardless of whether I'm in it or not, because there are values that … I will fight to see asserted,' he said.
—With files from Kate McCullough
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