1989 Alberta general election

March 20, 1989 (1989-03-20)
83 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 42 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	53.60%
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Don Getty Ray Martin Laurence Decore Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal Leader since November 1, 1985 November 10, 1984 October 9, 1988 Leader's seat Edmonton-Whitemud (lost re-election) Edmonton-Norwood Edmonton-Glengarry Last election 61 seats, 51.4% 16 seats, 29.2% 4 seats, 12.2% Seats before 61 16 4 Seats won 59 16 8 Seat change 2 ±0 4 Popular vote 367,244 217,972 237,787 Percentage 44.3% 26.3% 28.7% Swing 7.1% 2.9% 16.5%
Premier before election Don Getty Progressive Conservative Premier after election Don Getty Progressive Conservative

The 1989 Alberta general election was held on March 20, 1989, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Many political observers were surprised by the early election call as less than three years had passed since the previous election. Premier Don Getty, in his second election as Progressive Conservative Party leader, led it to its sixth consecutive term in government, although supported by less than half the votes cast in the election.

Despite losing a significant share of the popular vote, the PC's benefited from a split vote between the two main opponents Liberals and NDP. Together those two parties received 55 percent of the vote to the Conservative's 44 percent.

The Conservatives sustained a net loss of only two seats in the legislature. Most notably, the premier lost his own seat of Edmonton-Whitemud to Liberal candidate Percy Wickman. The PC's were reduced to just two seats in Edmonton, however despite their losses in urban areas they remained largely dominant in Calgary while their losses were somewhat offset by gains in rural areas, notably at the expense of the moribund Representative Party. Getty himself would quickly return to the Legislature by winning a by-election in a safe rural seat.

The New Democratic Party led by Ray Martin largely held its share of the popular vote, with its gains being balanced by its losses and the party left with the same number of seats (16) as in the previous in the legislature.

The Liberal Party, under new leader Laurence Decore, was the principal beneficiary of the voters' continuing distrust of Don Getty. The Liberals' share of the popular vote increased to over 28%, more than the NDP, but whereas the NDP continued to dominate in Edmonton the Liberal vote was more evenly distributed and the party's legislative caucus increased from four to only eight members.

The Representative Party, which had elected 2 candidates in the previous election, did not run any candidates in 1989 (although it remained registered). Leader Ray Speaker defected to the Progressive Conservatives, while Walt Buck retired. The party disbanded soon after the election.

Results

Overall voter turnout was 53.60%.^[1]

Note:

* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

Results by riding

See also

• List of Alberta political parties

References

Further reading

• Leyton-Brown, David, ed. (1995). Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs, 1989. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802007148.