2009 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election

2009 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election

← 2004 June 27, 2009 2015 →

FK Candidate Tim Hudak Frank Klees Riding Niagara West—Glanbrook Newmarket—Aurora Final ballot 5,606 (54.69%) 4,644 (45.31%) First ballot 3,511.87 (33.94%) 3,093.77 (29.90%)   Candidate Christine Elliott Randy Hillier Riding Whitby—Oshawa Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington Final ballot Eliminated Eliminated First ballot 2,728.66 (26.37%) 1,013.69 (9.80%)

Results by Ontario electoral district

Leader before election Bob Runciman (interim) Elected Leader Tim Hudak

On March 6, 2009, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader John Tory announced his intention to step down as leader following his defeat in a by-election. Tory was elected party leader in the party's 2004 leadership election, and led the party to defeat in the 2007 provincial election in which he failed to win personal election to the Ontario Legislature. He attempted again to enter the legislature in a March 5, 2009 by-election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate.

The party's executive set June 27, 2009 as the date for the new leader to be announced over the objections of several MPPs who called for a September vote. Candidates were required to register as such by April 17; in order to be able to cast a ballot it was necessary for one to have been a member of the party by May 14.^[2] Of the 25 members caucus, interim leader Bob Runciman remained neutral in the race and MPP Joyce Savoline did not endorse a candidate.

The party reported that it had over 40,000 members eligible to vote in the leadership contest as of the membership cut-off of May 15, up from 8,500 at the beginning of the leadership race.^[3] Of the 43,000 members eligible to vote some 25,429 members cast a ballot.^[4]