1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election

1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election

← 1958 April 6, 1968 1984 →

Candidate Pierre Trudeau Robert Winters John Turner Fourth ballot delegate count 1,203 (50.9%) 954 (40.3%) 195 (8.2%) Third ballot delegate count 1,051 (44.2%) 621 (26.1%) 277 (11.7%) Second ballot delegate count 964 (40.5%) 373 (19.9%) 347 (14.6%) First ballot delegate count 752 (31.5%) 293 (12.3%) 277 (11.6%)   Candidate Paul Hellyer Joe Greene Allan MacEachen Fourth ballot delegate count Withdrew Eliminated Eliminated Third ballot delegate count 333 (15.9%) 29 (1.2%) Eliminated Second ballot delegate count 465 (19.5%) 104 (4.4%) 11 (0.5%) First ballot delegate count 330 (13.8%) 169 (7.1%) 163 (6.8%)   Candidate Paul Martin Sr. Fourth ballot delegate count Withdrew Third ballot delegate count Withdrew Second ballot delegate count Withdrew First ballot delegate count 277 (11.6%)

Leader before election Lester B. Pearson Elected Leader Pierre Trudeau

The 1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election was held on April 6, 1968. The election was won by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who became the new prime minister of Canada as a result. He was the unexpected winner in what was one of the most important leadership conventions in party history. The Globe and Mail's newspaper report the next day called it "the most chaotic, confusing, and emotionally draining convention in Canadian political history."^[1]

The convention was held following the announced retirement of Lester B. Pearson, who was a well-respected party leader and prime minister, but who had failed to win a majority government in two attempts. Eight high-profile cabinet ministers entered the race, but by the time the convention began on April 3, the charismatic Trudeau had emerged as the front runner. He was strongly opposed by the party's right wing, but this faction was divided between former Minister of Trade and Commerce Robert Winters and Minister of Transport Paul Hellyer and failed to mount a united opposition. Trudeau won the leadership with the support of 51% delegates on the fourth ballot of the convention.