MLA Obby Khan, hotelier Wally Daudrich meet deadline to run for Manitoba PC leader

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Peggy

The deadline to run for leader of Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative Party closed with two candidates seeking to head up the Official Opposition.

However, it might take another week for the party to determine whether there will be a competitive race.

When the deadline to submit applications to run for PC leader closed Tuesday at noon, both MLA Obby Khan (Fort Whyte) and Churchill hotelier Wally Daudrich submitted paperwork, PC leadership election committee chair Brad Zander said.

Khan, who submitted his application on Oct. 2, has been approved as a candidate, Zander said, while Daudrich, who submitted his application Monday, is still being vetted by the election committeed.

That review involves an interview, a criminal background check and social media screening, Zander said.

“Our hope is to get it done as soon as possible,” he said of Daudrich’s application, adding it took about 10 days to vet Khan.

Assuming Daudrich is approved as a candidate, he and Khan are expected to appear at an initial leadership event on Oct. 30 at the Delta Hotel, where they will be asked to lay out their vision for the party.

“All the approved candidates as of that date will be attending. Former Radisson MLA James Teitsma will be hosting a question and answer session,” Zander said.

Prospective PC leadership candidates had six months to put together an application prior to Tuesday’s deadline. The leadership election is set for April 25, 2024.

The PCs opted to give candidates ample time to submit an application and campaign after the party’s last leadership race, which saw Heather Stefanson defeat Shelly Glover, was marred my complaints about an abbreviated election timeline.

The presence of no more than two potential candidates in this new race does not constitute robust competition, said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

Adams said the usual leadership-race dynamic for the Manitoba PCs involves a competition between well-known urban and rural candidates.

Daudrich, the professor said, does not have the profile he would have expected from a candidate located outside Winnipeg.

“He’s not elected member. He doesn’t have a large constituency base. It’s not like he’s from Portage la Prairie,” Adams said. “He’s a successful business person up in Churchill, Manitoba.”

Adams said the popularity of Wab Kinew’s New Democrats, who have only been in power for one year, might have dissuaded other potential candidates.

“Anybody who runs for Opposition Leader has to give up his or her position and what their career is and expect to be on the Opposition benches for seven or eight years,” he said.

“That’s a long commitment and then you aren’t guaranteed of being elected at the end of that seven or eight years.”

Zander said he does not believe that is set in stone.

“I’m not in the business of making predictions about future elections, [but] I think it’s the view of all PC Party members that the individual who ultimately is successful in this race will be the next premier of Manitoba,” he said.

Stefanson stepped down as PC Leader in January. MLA Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet) is serving as interim leader until a new permanent leader is named.