1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

← 1961 April 21–24, 1971 1975 →

JL JPH Candidate David Lewis James Laxer John Paul Harney Fourth ballot delegate count 1,046 (63.1%) 612 (36.9%) Eliminated Third ballot delegate count 742 (44.1%) 508 (30.2%) 431 (25.6%) Second ballot delegate count 715 (42.5%) 407 (24.1%) 347 (20.5%) First ballot delegate count 661 (38.9%) 378 (22.3%) 299 (17.6%)   FH Candidate Ed Broadbent Frank Howard Fourth ballot delegate count Eliminated Eliminated Third ballot delegate count Eliminated Eliminated Second ballot delegate count 223 (13.1%) Eliminated First ballot delegate count 236 (13.9%) 124 (7.3%)

Leader before election Tommy Douglas Elected Leader David Lewis

The 1971 New Democratic Party leadership election was a leadership convention held in Ottawa from April 21 to 24 to elect a leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. Tommy Douglas retired as federal leader, and David Lewis was elected as his successor. At this convention the Waffle faction was at the zenith of its popularity and power. Donald C. MacDonald, the former Ontario NDP leader, was elected as the party's president. The major non-leadership issues were what stance would the party take in terms of Quebec sovereignty and whether policy initiatives calling for the nationalization of the oil, gas, and mining industries would pass.