User:Mr Serjeant Buzfuz/Electoral history of Roy Romanow



This article is the Electoral history of Roy Romanow, the twelfth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He served from 1991 to 2001.

Romanow led the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) in three general elections, in 1991, 1995, and 1999. He won majority governments in 1991 and 1995, and a minority government in 1999. He was the second of three NDP premiers to date.

Romanow stood for election to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan nine times, in the general elections of 1967, 1971, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1995 and 1999. He was elected eight times and defeated once, in the 1982 general election.

Romanow sought the leadership of the NDP twice, in 1970 and 1987. In the 1970 leadership convention, he was defeated by Allan Blakeney, coming in second. He was elected by acclamation at the 1987 convention.

Romanow retired from provincial politics in 2001, and was succeeded as leader of the NDP and Premier of Saskatchewan by Lorne Calvert.

Summary
Romanow was the sixth-longest serving Premier of the fifteen Premiers of Saskatchewan. He was in office from November 1, 1991 to February 8, 2001, for a total of 23 years, 177 days.

Romanow led the New Democratic Party in three provincial general elections: 1991, 1995, and 1999. He won a majority government in his first election as leader, in 1991, defeating Premier Grant Devine, leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Devine resigned as Premier and was succeeded by Romanow. As Premier, Romanow won a majority government in the next election, in 1995, but in 1999 was returned with a minority. Romanow formed a coalition government with the Liberal members of the Legislative Assembly. In 2000, he announced his retirement from politics. He resigned as leader of the NDP and as Premier in 2001, and was succeeded by Lorne Calvert. Romanow also resigned his seat in Saskatoon Riversdale, which Calvert subsequently won in the resulting by-election.

Romanow was a member of the Cabinet in the government of Allan Blakeney, serving as Attorney General for Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982, as well as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs from 1979 to 1982.

Romanow's political career began in 1967, when he was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Saskatoon Riversdale. It was the first of nine elections, in which Romanow was elected eight times, with vote tallies ranging from 57.9% to 70.9%. He was defeated only once, in the 1982 general election, when the NDP government was defeated. Romanow was defeated in his own constituency, in an extremely close election: he fell only nineteen votes behind the PC candidate, Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk. The NDP challenged the results under the provincial Controverted Elections Act, but the courts upheld the election result. Romanow thought that his political career might be over, but successfully ran again in the next election, at the urgings of his colleagues. Successful in the 1986 general election, he won the seat three more times.

Overall, Romanow was a member of the Legislative Assembly for over thirty years, the longest of any premier of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan general elections, 1991 to 1999
Romanow led the NDP in three general elections: 1991, 1995, and 1999. He won the first two elections with majority governments, but was returned with a minority government in 1999.

1991 General election
In his first election as leader of the NDP, Romanow won a major victory. He and the NDP won fifty-five seats in the sixty-six seat Legislative Assembly. Premier Grant Devine and the PCs were badly defeated, winning only ten seats. Devine resigned as Premier and Romanow became Premier. The Saskatchewan Liberal Party won one seat, namely their leader Lynda Haverstock.

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Premier after election. 2 Premier when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Rounds to zero. 4 Rounding error.

1995 General election
In his second election as leader of the NDP, Romanow was re-elected with a majority government, although with a reduced number of seats. The Liberals under Lynda Haverstock won eleven seats, while the PCs, led by Bill Boyd, were reduced to five seats.

1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election. 2 Leader of third party when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; leader of third party after the election.

1999 General election
In his third election as leader of the NDP, Romanow was reduced to a minority government with twenty-nine members, one short of a majority. The new Saskatchewan Party under Elwin Hermanson came in second, with twenty-five seats, while the Liberals under Jim Melenchuk were reduced to four seats. The NDP came in second in the total popular vote, with the Saskatchewan Party having the plurality. Romanow formed a coalition government with the Liberals.

1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election. 2 Did not have a seat in the Legislative Assembly when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Rounding error.

Saskatchewan constituency elections, 1967 to 1999
Romanow stood for election to the Legislative Assembly nine times, all in the riding of Saskatoon Riversdale. He was elected eight times and defeated once, in the general election of 1982. Overall, he held the seat for over thirty years.

1967 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. 1 Rounding error.

1971 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent.

1975 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent.

1978 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

1982 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent.

1986 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent.

1991 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

1995 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

1999 General election: Saskatoon Riversdale
Elected. X Incumbent.

NDP Leadership elections
Romanow stood for election as leader of the NDP twice, in 1970 and in 1987. He was defeated by Allan Blakeney in 1970, but was acclaimed in 1987.

1970 Leadership election
When Woodrow Lloyd retired as leader, the NDP held a leadership convention in 1970. Romanow led on the first two ballots, but was defeated by Allan Blakeney on the third ballot.

1 Rounding error.

1987 Leadership election
The NDP held a leadership election on November 7, 1987, following the retirement of Allan Blakeney. Romanow was the only candidate for the leadership and was acclaimed.