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

1968 Liberal leadership election
DateApril 6, 1968
ConventionOttawa Civic Centre
Resigning leaderLester Pearson
Won byPierre Trudeau
Ballots4
Candidates9
Entrance Feenone
Spending limitnone
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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.

  1. ^ Anthony Westell and Geoffrey Stevens. "Seven and a half hours of chaos, and an enigma chosen next PM." The Globe and Mail. April 8, 1968, p. A9.