Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership elections

This page lists the results of leadership elections held by the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick or as it was known before March 3, 1943, the Conservative Party. Before 1925 leaders were chosen by the caucus.

1925 leadership convention
On May 27, 1925, John Babington Macaulay Baxter accepted an offer to lead the party in Saint John.

Developments 1925-1937
Baxter resigned as premier on appointment to the bench in 1931 and was succeeded as premier by Charles Richards on May 18 of that year. Richards was in turn appointed to the bench in 1933 and was succeeded as premier by Leonard Tilley on June 2 of that year. Following Tilley's personal defeat in the 1935 general election which also saw the Conservatives swept from power he resigned and Frederick C. Squires was chosen House leader on September 10.

1937 leadership convention
(Held on October 27, 1937)


 * Frederick C. Squires acclaimed

Squires resigned after the 1939 general election and Hugh H. Mackay was chosen House leader on January 20, 1940.

1942 leadership convention
(Held on September 23, 1942)


 * Hugh H. Mackay acclaimed

1951 leadership convention
(Held on July 11, 1951)


 * Hugh John Flemming acclaimed

Following his government's defeat in the 1960 general election Flemming was appointed to the federal cabinet and resigned as party leader. Cyril Sherwood was chosen House leader on November 5, 1960.

T. Babbitt Parlee was the only other contender.

1962 leadership convention
(Held on October 27, 1962)


 * Cyril Sherwood acclaimed

1966 leadership convention
(Held on November 26, 1966)


 * Charles Van Horne 458
 * Richard Hatfield 135
 * Roger Pichette 9

Van Horne was defeated in the 1967 election and resigned on February 8, 1968. Richard Hatfield was chosen House leader.

1969 leadership convention
(Held on June 14, 1969)


 * Richard Hatfield 799
 * Charles Van Horne 554
 * Mathilda Blanchard 13

Joe McDougall and William T. Walker withdrew before balloting.

1989 leadership convention
(Held November 4, 1989)


 * Barbara Baird Filliter 1,021
 * Hazen Myers 348

1991 leadership convention
(Held June 15, 1991)


 * Dennis Cochrane 955
 * Bev Lawrence 116

1995 leadership convention
(Held May 13, 1995)


 * Bernard Valcourt 944
 * Scott MacGregor 416
 * John Hazen 47

1997 leadership convention
(Held October 18, 1997)

First Ballot:
 * Bernard Lord 1,390
 * Norm Betts 1,223
 * Cleveland Allaby 663
 * Margaret-Ann Blaney 527

Second Ballot (Blaney eliminated, Allaby withdrew):
 * Bernard Lord 1,830
 * Norm Betts 1,413

2008 leadership convention
(Held on October 18, 2008)


 * David Alward 2,269
 * Robert MacLeod 1,760

2016 leadership convention
(Held on October 22, 2016)

First Ballot: (Stewart, McDonald and Dubé eliminated)
 * Blaine Higgs 1,228
 * Mel Norton 1,078
 * Monica Barley 948
 * Mike Allen 892
 * Jake Stewart 700
 * Brian McDonald 605
 * Jean F. Dubé 39

Second Ballot: (Barley and Allen eliminated)
 * Blaine Higgs 1,417
 * Mel Norton 993
 * Monica Barley 861
 * Mike Allen 829

Third Ballot:


 * Blaine Higgs 1563
 * Mel Norton 1,169