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Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Khan faces a difficult fight — with his own base
Opinion The political aspirations of Wally Daudrich have fizzled out for the moment — but the ghost of it will remain something with which PC Leader Obby Khan must contend. Daudrich, who lost to Khan by a hair in a leadership contest which concluded in late April, ran a campaign promising to be a 'pro-freedom, pro-life and true conservative' leader. That embrace of social conservatism took him almost all the way to the head of the Progressive Conservative table — he actually garnered more votes than Khan, only to lose on a percentage basis under a new system for tabulating points awarded to candidates. (Under this system, Khan won 50.4 per cent of total points, and Daudrich 49.6 per cent). But the final nail in the coffin — barring any political resurrections down the line — was Khan's refusal to put Daudrich in as the party's candidate for a byelection for the constituency of Spruce Woods. Daudrich has said he won't apply to contest the nomination. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Leader of the Opposition Obby Khan Denying Daudrich the byelection spot was prudent of Khan. He has a tall order ahead, running the PCs in the wake of a deeply unpopular re-election campaign under former premier Heather Stefanson, and reshaping the party's image in the public eye. (A task made more difficult by recent findings of ethics violations by that outgoing government.) As leader, Khan has promised a change in tone, in its political rhetoric and its Question Period behaviour. 'A new day has begun,' he told the chamber in early May. In trying to build back trust after the party's anti-landfill-search campaign plank registered with voters as callous, he would not have been served well by appointing a candidate who joked about sending polar bears into downtown Winnipeg as a solution to the city's homelessness problem. But while Daudrich is out of the running, it remains the case that in terms of sheer number of voters, a majority of Progressive Conservative members — however slim the majority — wanted Daudrich in, and not Khan. And so he must try to create a kinder, gentler, more moderate image for the PCs, even as much of his base advocates taking the party further to the right. It will make for an interesting test of whether or not a leader steers their party, or the other way around. Will Khan, the party leader who has apologized for the landfill rhetoric, insist on tamping down the further-right elements of his party? Or will their influence ultimately force him to take the ship in the direction they want it to go? Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. It's a problem faced by small-c conservatives and their parties the world over — small-government, pro-business people trying to continue their usual work in the shadow of a rising tidal wave with MAGA stamped either literally or spiritually upon it. The far-right political element, embodied by Trumpism stateside and the 'Freedom Convoy' in Canada, is loud and proud about its grievances. This movement also found a voice in Daudrich, who credited U.S. President Donald Trump with helping to 'change the mood' among conservatives. Earlier this year in this space, this paper wondered whether Khan was actually all that ideologically different from Daudrich, or if he was simply better at concealing his more risible positions beneath a veneer of rhetorical discretion and decent retail politics. If he means what he says, he will have to steel himself for battles both within and without, as he tries to inspire the party's base to follow him to a more moderate place. But if the PCs continue to be swept up in an increasingly right-wing tide, it will be strong evidence he didn't.
CBC
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba PC leadership race data suggests Khan puts party in position to improve in Winnipeg, Brandon
Obby Khan campaigned to lead Manitoba Progressive Conservatives on the basis he'd improve the party's fortunes among urban voters. The results of Manitoba's PC leadership race indicate the Fort Whyte MLA was indeed more popular among party members in Winnipeg and Brandon than Wally Daudrich, his sole competitor in the race. Khan won the Official Opposition party's leadership contest on Saturday by securing more points under a weighted ballot system, even though Daudrich earned more actual votes. The race was close, regardless of the metric. Under the weighted system, which awarded points to each of Manitoba's 57 constituencies based on the number of votes cast by PC members in those areas, Khan racked up 2,198.8 points compared to Daudrich's 2,163.2. Daudrich won the raw vote by 53 ballots, with 3,387 votes to Khan's 3,334. The race was not close at all when you look at constituencies in Winnipeg and Brandon alone. According to voting data posted on the party's website, Khan was by far the more popular candidate in Winnipeg. He received more votes than Daudrich in 25 out of 32 Winnipeg constituencies. Khan beat Daudrich by the largest margins in suburban Winnipeg constituencies such as The Maples, Waverley and his home constituency of Fort Whyte. The only corner of Winnipeg where Daudrich proved more popular was a seven-constituency crescent of the city's northeast quadrant. If Winnipeg voters in general follow that pattern, the party could do better in Winnipeg with Khan as its leader than it would have with Daudrich in the next provincial election. Right now, the NDP holds both Waverley and The Maples. Khan's seat is one of only two the PCs have in Winnipeg (Kathleen Cook's Roblin is the other). That leaves tremendous room for a Khan-led Progressive Conservative Party to improve in Winnipeg, even though the prospect of clawing back enough seats to return to power next election is unlikely. History suggests Wab Kinew's NDP government will earn a second term regardless of the party's performance. Manitobans tend to be forgiving toward new governments: The last one to suffer defeat after a single term was Sterling Lyon's Progressive Conservative government, which was in power from 1977 to 1981. Daudrich more popular in rural areas The PC leadership race data also shows Khan won both of the constituencies in Brandon, whose demographics are somewhat similar to those in Winnipeg. While Brandon East generally prefers the NDP, Brian Pallister's Progressive Conservatives won both this riding and Brandon West in both the 2016 and 2019 provincial elections. In non-urban Manitoba constituencies, Daudrich was the more popular candidate in the PC leadership race. He won 20 out of 23 constituencies located entirely outside Winnipeg and Brandon. He earned his largest percentage of the vote in the rural constituencies of Dawson Trail, Turtle Mountain and La Verendrye, all solidly PC constituencies over the past decade. In other words, Daudrich did best in areas that are unlikely to ever vote NDP. Khan did better where the PCs need to grow. So on the basis of numbers alone, Khan presents the party with a better chance of whittling away at the NDP's seat count in the future. The question is whether he can actually do so. Khan said the first step in that task is rebuilding trust with voters, particularly in Winnipeg. "We have some work to do as a party to rebuild that trust. We've got to rebuild that relationship," he said Wednesday in an interview. Asked whether that rebuilding requires a more vociferous disavowal of the party's mean-spirited 2023 election campaign than Manitobans have heard from him before, Khan suggested that may be on the way. "I have a lot more to say on a lot of things that have happened in the past with this party," he said, promising more specifics later. Khan is vulnerable here on two main fronts. He did not offer full-throated support when interim PC leader Wayne Ewasko apologized for Heather Stefanson's refusal to search the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of murdered First Nations women. He also did not fully distance himself from his own role in the 2023 provincial election, when he served as the face of his party's vague promise to bolster "parental rights." In an interview in March, Khan said he was not aware the term may be seen as a transphobic dogwhistle when the campaign was underway. "I was aware after the campaign, actually, that some people would use that as a dog whistle. It was not my intent at all. I don't believe in that at all," Khan said on March 7. The NDP revisited Khan's track record in an attack website that went online minutes after Khan won the PC leadership race. Premier Wab Kinew, however, has not spoken to CBC News about Khan since the PC leadership race concluded on Saturday. Kinew and Khan will face each other as party leaders for the first time when the legislative session resumes on Monday — the first day Khan will have the chance to embark upon his stated mission of making his party more palatable in areas of the province with more pavement than prairie grass.
Global News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Defeated Manitoba Tory leadership candidate wants to win seat in byelection
Wally Daudrich, who was recently defeated in the race to lead Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservatives, says he remains a 'loyal' member of the party and still plans on seeking the Tory nomination to run in a byelection. The hotel owner and longtime party board member says he hopes to run uncontested in the Spruce Woods constituency. 'I've been vetted (by) the party. I have gone through all those hoops … and I believe I'm ready to run as a candidate,' Daudrich said in an interview Wednesday. '(Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan) just needs to give the thumbs-up and let me run basically as an uncontested candidate.' Khan, a former cabinet minister, pro football player and business owner, was elected leader of the province's Progressive Conservatives on Saturday in a tight race with Daudrich that came down to several decimal points. Story continues below advertisement Numbers from the party's website show that Daudrich garnered 53 more votes than Khan, but under the party's recently adopted system that awards points to each constituency based on the number of votes cast, Khan got 50.4 per cent of the total points to Daudrich's 49.6 per cent. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Daudrich did not address the crowd after the results were determined. On Wednesday, he said he accepts the results and supports Khan as leader. 'I went into the race knowing the rules,' Daudrich said, referencing the party's decision to adopt a point system that limits the influence of constituencies with large membership numbers. 'I went in understanding it and accepting it. That is the basis that (Khan) won and he's the new leader. I put my support behind him.' The Tories used a one-member, one-vote system in 2021 in which all votes were counted with equal weight. The new system was designed to prevent candidates from potentially winning by flooding one or two constituencies with new membership sales. Daudrich said he voted against the new rules but declined to elaborate on the concerns he had with them. During the leadership race, Daudrich staked out more socially conservative ground, saying the party needs to return to more conservative positions. Story continues below advertisement He said some of his supporters feel the education system has become an 'indoctrination system' and criticized the NDP government's decision to cover the cost of prescription birth control. He stirred up controversy by joking that he would tackle homelessness by letting polar bears loose outside the legislature in Winnipeg. When asked on Wednesday whether he had any regrets with the way he ran his campaign, Daudrich said he did everything that he wanted to do and is now focusing on uniting the conservative movement in the province. This does not include starting a new party or joining fringe parties in Manitoba, said Daudrich. He is putting his focus on running in Spruce Woods and hopes to receive the support of Khan. The riding was previously represented by Grant Jackson, who resigned and was elected a Conservative member of Parliament in Monday's federal election. Daudrich said he has researched the riding and has spoken to many members in the area. Khan did not comment directly on Daudrich's interest in running. 'I am encouraged when people are interested in running for our party but as leader, I have to stay neutral,' he said in a statement. The byelection has not yet been called.
Epoch Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Manitoba Progressive Conservatives Choose Obby Khan as Leader After Tight Contest
Former cabinet minister and football player Obby Khan was elected leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative party over the weekend in a closely contested two-way race that was decided by less than one percentage point. Khan won against longtime party board member Wally Daudrich to assume leadership of the provincial Opposition party, which holds 20 of the 57 seats in the legislature. Daudrich garnered 53 more votes than Khan in the mail-in ballot election, but the party's newly implemented electoral district placed Khan ahead with 50.4 percent of the total points, while Daudrich secured 49.6 percent, according to posted to the party's website. 'I understand, we might not always agree … and that's OK. But as long as we're open and honest and respectful, we can have those conversations and we can move together forward as one Progressive Conservative party here in Manitoba,' Khan said during his victory . 'Whether you voted for Wally—a lot of people did—whether you voted for me, or you didn't vote, I thank you for being a member of this party. But now we all need to come together because you win in politics, you win in life, through addition, not subtraction.' Daudrich spoke with well-wishers but chose not to address the crowd. A representative from his campaign said Daudrich accepts the election results. Related Stories 1/12/2025 2/21/2025 The Progressive Conservatives said on social media that Khan will immediately take over as leader of the official Opposition, with the legislature set to resume on May 5. The party has been focused on rebuilding since losing the 2023 provincial election to the NDP, leading to the resignation of former Premier Heather Stefanson. Stefanson's leadership win in 2021 was also achieved by a slim margin, and defeated candidate Shelly Glover contested the outcome in court, there were multiple voting irregularities. A judge dismissed her case, saying she didn't provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that any irregularities could have altered the outcome. Khan Pushing 'Big Tent' Philosophy Khan, the MLA for Fort Whyte, received the backing of most caucus members. He described himself as the type of politician who can work with a wide range of people. 'As our big tent emerges, we are 11,000 strong and ready to begin a new era of grassroots involvement based on mutual respect and transparency,' Khan said in an April 27 Facebook . 'We are on the verge of a new era of growth and opportunity. An era that will demand the ingenuity, teamwork and energy that only the PC Party of Manitoba can and will deliver.' Daudrich ran a different campaign with a focus on returning to the party's more conservative positions, saying he would focus on smaller government and a more business-friendly environment. Daudrich, a hotelier, has raised the possibility of running for a legislature seat in the Spruce Woods constituency, which is facing a byelection following the recent resignation of Tory MLA Grant Jackson, who resigned to run as a federal candidate in the Brandon-Souris riding. Daudrich has yet to publicly announce his candidacy. Khan is an entrepreneur and former professional Canadian Football League centre who played nine seasons, first with the Ottawa Renegades and then with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. He entered politics in 2022 when he ran for the PCs in the Fort Whyte by-election, beating out Liberal candidate Willard Reaves, another former CFL player. The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Obby Khan wins the Manitoba Conservative leader race
Obby Khan is now the leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Party. He won against Wally Daudrich. The election happened because Heather Stefanson resigned. Stefanson resigned after the party lost to the NDP. Khan wants to unite the party. The goal is to win the 2027 election. Daudrich accepted the results. The PC Party has 20 seats. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a closely contested race, Obby Khan has been elected as the new leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Party on April 26. The former Canadian Football League player and entrepreneur secured 50.4% in a narrow win against Wally Daudrich, a hotel owner from Churchill, Manitoba, who received 49.6% campaigned on restoring and strengthening the rural and conservative values with a focus on prioritizing self-reliance and fiscal responsibility, which struck a chord with agricultural communities and small towns. On the other hand, Khan, who was born in Ottawa to a Muslim- Canadian family of Pakistani heritage, emphasized inclusivity and practical resignation of former Premier Heather Stefanson in early 2024, after the Progressive Conservatives lost the 2023 provincial election to the New Democratic Party (NDP), led to the elections. The party opted for a prolonged selection process to ensure a fair and thorough choice of leader, because of the controversies of the 2021 election race, primarily related to procedural issues and concerns about announced her resignation on October 3, 2023, and vacated her seat in the Tuxedo constituency on May 6, 2024, which led to a by-election in which the NDP secured the seat for the first time since its creation in winning, Khan pledged to reach out to all party members, including those who supported Daudrich, to prepare for the upcoming 2027 provincial election . "Whether you voted for Wally, whether you voted for me, or you didn't vote, I thank you for being a member of this party," Khan stated after his victory. "But now we all need to come together because you win in politics, you win in life, through addition not subtraction."Daudrich, the opposition candidate, accepted the results graciously. His campaign highlighted a more conservative vision for the party, advocating for reduced government intervention and increased business development. While he did not receive endorsements from any sitting members of the PC caucus, Daudrich's supporters, like Patrick Allard, have pledged to unite under Khan's leadership. Allard, after the election results, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, "We have the same goal and that's winning in 2027, getting rid of this disastrous NDP."The PC Party currently holds 20 seats in the Manitoba legislature, compared to the 34 seats held by the brings a fresh perspective to the political arena as he faces the challenge of revitalizing the Progressive Conservative Party and preparing for the 2027 provincial election.
