1970 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election

1970 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election Saskatchewan presidential no 1961 1987 1987 July 4, 1970 Riding Final ballot Second ballot First ballot File:Allan-Blakeney-2009-Full.jpeg f4a460 Allan Blakeney Regina Centre 407(53.84%) 311(36.59%) 286(33.61%) Roy Romanow University of Ottawa2.jpg f4a460 Roy Romanow Saskatoon Riversdale 349(46.16%) 320(37.65%) 300(35.35%) f4a460 Don Mitchell None Eliminated 219(25.67%) 187(21.97%) f4a460 George Taylor None Eliminated Eliminated 78(9.17%) Leader Woodrow Lloyd Allan Blakeney Saskatchewan New Democratic Party SK NDP 1970 July 4, 1970 Regina Armoury, Regina Allan Blakeney Woodrow Lloyd 4 3 The 1970 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election was held on July 4, 1970, to elect a successor to Woodrow Lloyd as leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. The election was necessary because Lloyd had announced his intention to step down as leader in March 1970 after concluding he had lost the support of much of the New Democratic caucus. Allan Blakeney won on the third ballot, defeating Roy Romanow. Background Woodrow Lloyd had led the Saskatchewan NDP in the previous two provincial elections in 1964 and 1967, finishing second both times. Lloyd's politics subsequently began to shift to the left as the 1960s progressed; notably, he was one of the most high-profile New Democrats to support the Manifesto for an Independent Socialist Canada. This prompted ideological tensions within the party, which combined with Lloyd's failure to win government in 1964 and 1967, caused his support within the party's caucus to erode. After a particularly contentious caucus meeting in March 1970, he offered his resignation, effective once a new leader was elected.Grenier Éric 2023-07-05 (Almost) on This Day in the #EveryElectionProject Blakeney defeats Romanow https://www.thewrit.ca/p/the-weekly-writ-for-jul-5-why-the The Writ 2025-03-31Eisler Dale 2022 From Left to Right: Saskatchewan's Political and Economic Transformation Regina University of Regina Press Allan Blakeney was considered to be the front runner from the outset of the leadership race. He was a political veteran, and had previously served as Minister of Health and Minister of Education under both Tommy Douglas and Lloyd. Roy Romanow was a relative political newcomer, at just 30 years old and serving his first term in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. He was considered the most centrist of the candidates.Grenier Éric 2023-07-05 (Almost) on This Day in the #EveryElectionProject Blakeney defeats Romanow https://www.thewrit.ca/p/the-weekly-writ-for-jul-5-why-the The Writ 2025-03-31 Both Don Mitchell and George Taylor represented the socialist left wing of the party. Mitchell was the youngest candidate, and was associated with NDP's Waffle faction. 2006 New Democratic Party (NDP) https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/new_democratic_party_ndp.html Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan University of Regina 2025-03-31 Meanwhile Taylor was a former member of the Communist Party and had been a supporter of Lloyd during his turn to the left. 2012-05-04 George Taylor https://thestarphoenix.remembering.ca/obituary/george-taylor-1066580555 thestarphoenix.remembering.ca Saskatoon Saskatoon StarPhoenix 2025-03-31Grenier Éric 2023-07-05 (Almost) on This Day in the #EveryElectionProject Blakeney defeats Romanow https://www.thewrit.ca/p/the-weekly-writ-for-jul-5-why-the The Writ 2025-03-31 During the leadership vote, Mitchell declined to endorse a candidate in the final round; with him and many of his supporters choosing to abstain. Taylor opted to support Blakeney in the final round.Grenier Éric 2023-07-05 (Almost) on This Day in the #EveryElectionProject Blakeney defeats Romanow https://www.thewrit.ca/p/the-weekly-writ-for-jul-5-why-the The Writ 2025-03-31 Candidates Allan Blakeney Allan Blakeney was the MLA for Regina Centre. He was first elected in the 1960 provincial election. Blakeney was also concurrently serving as the president of the federal New Democratic Party, a role he had assumed in 1969. Before entering politics, he was a civil servant. Don Mitchell Roy Romanow Roy Romanow was the MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale. He was first elected in the 1967 provincial election. Before entering politics, he was a lawyer. George Taylor George Taylor was a member of Saskatoon City Council, having been elected in 1965. He was previously the NDP candidate for Saskatoon—Humboldt in the 1968 federal election. Before entering politics, he was a labour lawyer and had also served in the Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion during the Spanish Civil War. 2012-05-04 George Taylor https://thestarphoenix.remembering.ca/obituary/george-taylor-1066580555 thestarphoenix.remembering.ca Saskatoon Saskatoon StarPhoenix 2025-03-31 Ballot results +First BallotCandidateVotesPercentageRoy Romanow30035.25Allan Blakeney28633.61Don Mitchell18721.97George Taylor789.17Total851100.00 +Second BallotCandidateWeighted VotesPercentage+/-Roy Romanow32037.65+2.40Allan Blakeney31136.59+2.98Don Mitchell21925.67+3.70Total850100.00 +Third BallotCandidateWeighted VotesPercentage+/-Allan Blakeney40753.84+17.25Roy Romanow34946.16+8.51Total756100.00 References 30em expanded Category:Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership elections Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election Category:Leaders of the Saskatchewan CCF/NDP New Democratic Party leadership election Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election