Adam Price's Senedd return in doubt as Plaid Cymru selects new frontrunners
Former party leader placed third on regional list for Carmarthenshire
ADAM PRICE, the former leader of Plaid Cymru, faces a major setback in his bid to return to the Senedd in 2026 after being placed third on the party's regional list for Sir Gaerfyrddin.
Cefin Campbell MS and former AM Nerys Evans have taken the top two positions on the list, The Herald understands, significantly reducing Price's chances of re-election. Under Plaid Cymru's rules on gender balance, if a man tops the list, a woman must be selected second, and vice versa. With both top spots now filled, Price's third-place ranking leaves him reliant on an unlikely surge in support.
The seat is one of 16 new six-member constituencies under Wales's reformed electoral map. Plaid Cymru hopes to win at least two of the six available seats in the region, but strong challenges from Labour and Reform UK may limit gains.
Speaking after the result, Price said: 'I would like to thank the members who supported me during this process and congratulate Cefin on leading the list. Our task now is to work as a united team to deliver Plaid's best ever result in Sir Gâr.'
Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru's selection process does not guarantee sitting Members of the Senedd a place at the top of the list. The party prioritises a competitive vote among local members and enforces gender parity across its candidate rankings.
Price led Plaid Cymru from 2018 to 2023 and was a key figure in the party's 2021 Senedd campaign, promising a referendum on Welsh independence within five years if elected to power. However, Plaid came third in that election and later entered a co-operation agreement with Labour which resulted in policies such as universal free school meals.
His leadership came to an end following a damning report—authored by Evans herself—which highlighted a culture of misconduct within the party. Price resigned in 2023.
Further down the regional list for Sir Gaerfyrddin are former Llanelli candidate Mari Arthur, now working in green energy and marketing; Carmarthenshire councillor Iwan Griffiths; and Abi Thomas, who previously stood in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.
While a three-seat win for Plaid in the region is not impossible, it would require a particularly strong result on the night—something insiders suggest may be out of reach.
For many within the party, the memory of the scandals that led to Price's resignation—and the controversy surrounding former MP Jonathan Edwards—still lingers. Despite recent polling boosts for Plaid, their commitment to reforming candidate selection could come at the cost of losing high-profile names like Price and economic spokesperson Luke Fletcher.
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