PC leadership candidate Obby Khan leads Wally Daudrich in MLA endorsements

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Peggy

Roughly half of Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative MLAs have endorsed a candidate in the party’s leadership race — and every one of those endorsements belongs to Obby Khan.

With slightly more than two months to go before the PCs announce their new leader, the Fort Whyte MLA has the support of nine of the other 20 members of the party caucus.

Hotelier and ecotourism company operator Wally Daudrich has yet to secure an endorsement from a sitting MLA.

Khan says his PC MLA endorsements serve as evidence of his campaign’s momentum, while Daudrich cites his lack of endorsements as a sign he is bringing something new to the party.

“Colleagues of mine who have seen me work have seen what I can bring to the team and to the party and to the province,” said Khan, who was first elected as a PC MLA in 2022.

“I would say that the ballot question is, ‘Do you want more of the same?’ Then don’t vote for me. If you want different leadership than we’ve had, then I’m your guy,” said Daudrich, who ran for federal office in Churchill as a Conservative candidate in 2008 and 2011.

Khan’s MLA endorsements come from former Manitoba premier Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach), Kathleen Cook (Roblin), Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West), Richard Perchotte (Selkirk), Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail), Grant Jackson (Spruce Woods), Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie), Trevor King (Lakeside) and Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain).

A 10th MLA, Midland’s Lauren Stone, will not endorse a candidate because she sits on the party’s leadership selection committee.

Also this week, Daudrich clarified he will not form or join a new conservative party should he lose the PC leadership race.

“I categorically will not run under any other party banner,” said Daudrich, who had previously warned of a schism within the party if it does not focus more on conservative values than progressive ones.

Daudrich and Khan are competing to succeed former premier Heather Stefanson as party leader. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet) has been acting as interim leader since Stefanson resigned her Tuxedo seat in early 2024.

Since the start of the PC leadership race in October, Khan and Daudrich have shared the same stage at events in Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie and Beausejour. The candidates are slated to appear together in Brandon on Feb. 19.

The deadline to sign up new party members is Feb. 28. The party intends to mail leadership-election ballots to party members on March 10, and will accept ballots until Feb. 22, said Brad Zander, who chairs the leadership selection committee.

Consulting firm MNP will maintain custody of the mailed-in ballots as well as those deposited in two drop boxes, Zander said.

The party plans to announce its new leader at its convention on April 26.