1992 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

Canadian provincial party election September 2023 January 2023 Ontario Liberal Party ON Liberal 1992 February 7–9, 1992 Copps Coliseum,Hamilton, Ontario Lyn McLeod David Peterson 6 5 $250,000 The Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, 1992, held on February 8–9, 1992 elected Lyn McLeod leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. McLeod replaced David Peterson who had resigned after the party lost the 1990 provincial election and he failed to retain his seat. McLeod won after five ballots against a field of five other candidates. She was the first woman to head a major political party in Ontario. Background The leadership convention was held to replace David Peterson who resigned after the party lost the 1990 provincial election. Initially, Robert Nixon was appointed as interim leader but he resigned on July 31, 1991, to take a federal patronage position to conduct a review of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Murray Elston was then appointed interim leader, but he resigned when he announced his candidacy on November 18. Jim Bradley was appointed as the third interim leader, remaining in the post until the leadership convention. The leadership race officially began on November 7, 1991, 90 days before a convention, which was held on the weekend of February 7–9, 1992, in Hamilton, Ontario.Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs, 1992 David Leyton-Brown University of Toronto Press Toronto 1998 Rand Dyck Sam Bottomley 161 Candidates Six caucus members entered the race. They were Charles Beer, Murray Elston, Steve Mahoney, Lyn McLeod, David Ramsay, and Greg Sorbara. Mahoney was first off the mark when he officially announced his candidacy on November 7, 1991.Liberals set to pick leader The Windsor Star November 8, 1991 A1 Procedure The party adopted a procedure to elect a leader that included elements of both direct elections and a leadership convention. Members who had been party members for at least 90 days would choose delegates for the convention. Delegates sent by each riding varied depending on their support for individual candidates. Each elected delegate was committed to vote for a particular candidate on the first ballot but was free to choose on subsequent ballots. The hybrid format was an effort to include local democracy but with the media attention that follows a traditional convention. A spending cap of $250,000 was placed for each candidate's expenses and $671,000 was budgeted for the convention weekend.Liberals kick off drive for Ontario party leader Matt Maychak Paula Todd Toronto Star November 9, 1991 A12 Convention Elston was defeated by McLeod by a slim margin of 9 votes out of a total 2,315 votes cast. McLeod was the first woman to lead a major party in Ontario.Ontario Liberals pick McLeod; First woman leader wins by nine votes on fifth ballot Egan Kelly Ottawa Citizen February 9, 1992 A1 In her acceptance speech she promised to balance the budget and defeat the New Democrats in the next election. After the convention, she revealed that she had spent $272,947 on her campaign, breaking the spending cap. Elston also admitted overspending with expenses totalling $305,815. Ballot results pink darkgray = Eliminated from next round lightgreen darkgray = Winner Candidate1st Ballot 2nd Ballot 3rd Ballot 4th Ballot 5th Ballot There were 21 spoiled ballots on the final count. NameVotes%Votes% Votes%Votes% Votes%Murray Elston 740 30.2 767 31.8 865 35.6 988 41.6 1153 49.8Lyn McLeod667 27.2 744 30.9 873 35.9 1049 44.1 1162 50.2Greg Sorbara 345 14.1 380 15.8 402 16.6 341 14.3 Released delegatesCharles Beer 247 10.1 307 12.7 289 11.9 Released delegatesSteve Mahoney 236 9.6 213 8.8 Supported McLeodDavid Ramsay 216 8.8 Released delegatesTotal 2451 100.0 2411 100.0 2429 100.0 2378 100.0 2315 100.0 References Category:1992 elections in Canada 1992 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election