Lethbridge-West is an Alberta provincial electoral district, covering the western half of the city of Lethbridge, including all of West Lethbridge. Under the Alberta electoral boundary re-distribution of 2004, 13 Street forms most of the dividing line between Lethbridge-East and Lethbridge West. Scenic Drive and 16 Avenue South form a small part of the boundary. Clockwise from Lethbridge-East, the constituency is bounded at the city limits by Little Bow, by Livingstone-Macleod and then again by Little Bow.

The Member of the Legislative Assembly for this district is New Democrat Rob Miyashiro.

History

The electoral district was created in the 1971 boundary redistribution from the old electoral district of Lethbridge when it was split in half. It also took in territory from the riding of Macleod from west of the Oldman River.

The 2010 boundary redistribution made some minor revisions to equalize the population between West and East. North of St. Edward Blvd the boundary was pushed west from 13 Street to Stafford Drive.

Boundary history

65 Lethbridge-East 2003 boundaries
Bordering districts
NorthEastWestSouth
Little BowLethbridge-EastLivingstone-MacleodLittle Bow
riding map goes heremap in relation to other districts in Alberta goes here
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 2003, Electoral Divisions Act.
Starting at the right bank of the Oldman River and the north Lethbridge city boundary; then 1. east along the city boundary to 13 Street North; 2. south along 13 Street North and 13 Street South to 16 Avenue South; 3. west along 16 Avenue South to Scenic Drive South; 4. southeast along Scenic Drive South to the east boundary of Sec. 30 in Twp. 8, Rge. 21 W4; 5. south along Secs. 30, 19 and 18 in the Twp. to the right bank of the Oldman River; 6. upstream along the right bank to the north boundary of Sec. 16, Twp. 8, Rge. 22 W4; 7. east along the north boundary to the west Lethbridge city boundary; 8. north, east and northeast along the west city boundary to the starting point.
Note:
69 Lethbridge-West 2010 boundaries
Bordering districts
NorthEastWestSouth
Little BowLethbridge-EastCardston-Taber-WarnerLittle Bow
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 2010, Electoral Divisions Act.
Note:

Representation history

Lethbridge-West
AssemblyYearsMemberParty
Riding created from Lethbridge and Macleod
17th1971–1975Richard GruenwaldSocial Credit
18th1975–1979John GogoProgressive Conservative
19th1979–1982
20th1982–1986
21st1986–1989
22nd1989–1993
23rd1993–1997Clint Dunford
24th1997–2001
25th2001–2004
26th2004–2008
27th2008–2012Greg Weadick
28th2012–2015
29th2015–2019Shannon PhillipsNew Democratic
30th2019–2023
31st2023–2024
2024–presentRob Miyashiro

The electoral district was created in 1971 from the old Lethbridge district when it was split in half. Prior to 1971 the city returned candidates from a number of different banners. The first representative returned in the election held that year was Social Credit candidate Richard Gruenwald who won the district with well over half of the popular vote.

Gruenwald would run for a second term in the 1975 election and would be defeated finishing a distant second place behind Progressive Conservative candidate John Gogo who took almost 60% of the popular vote. Gogo would win his next two terms in 1979 and 1982 with increasing majorities achieving almost 70% of the popular vote.

Gogo would lose significant popularity upon re-election to his fourth term in 1986. He would fall from 70% the previous election to under half. He would hold his seat for a final term in 1989 when he took just over 45% of the popular vote. In his last term in office Premier Don Getty appointed Gogo as Minister of Advanced education He held that until 1992. Gogo retired from dissolution of the Assembly in 1993.

The 1993 election saw a hotly contested race between Progressive Conservative candidate Clint Dunford and Liberal candidate Michael Dietrich. Dunford won by a razor thin margin of just over 100 votes to hold the seat for his party and taking just over 41% of the popular vote.

Dunford was re-elected in 1997 winning a slightly higher plurality. After the election he was appointed to the provincial cabinet by Premier Ralph Klein as Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development. In 1999 he was shuffled to the Minister of Human Resources and Employment portfolio.

Dunford ran for his third term in 2001 increasing his plurality slightly taking 48% of the popular vote and kept his cabinet post. He ran for his fourth term in office in 2004 and fell to an all-time low holding his seat with just 39% of the popular vote. After that election he was shuffled to the Minister of Economic Development until 2006. Dunford retired from the legislature in 2008.

The fourth representative returned from the riding was Progressive Conservative candidate Greg Weadick who won his first term as MLA in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012, but was defeated in the 2015 general election by Shannon Phillips of the NDP. In 2019, Phillips held onto the riding with a reduced margin of victory over the second-place finishing UCP candidate with just 45% of the popular vote.

Legislative election results

Elections in the 2020s

Alberta provincial by-election, Lethbridge-West: December 18, 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticRob Miyashiro7,23853.35-0.57
United ConservativeJohn Middleton-Hope6,09344.91+2.40
Alberta PartyLayton Veverka2371.75-0.15
Total valid votes13,56899.46
Rejected, spoiled, and declined740.54-0.47
Turnout13,64236.06-25.71
Eligible voters37,828
New Democratic holdSwing-1.49
Source(s)Source: Elections Alberta
vte2023 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticShannon Phillips12,08253.92+8.70
United ConservativeCheryl Seaborn9,52542.51-1.78
Alberta PartyBraham Luddu4251.90-5.34
LiberalPat Chizek3751.67-0.21
Total22,40798.99
Rejected, spoiled and declined2281.01+0.42
Turnout22,63561.77-7.01
Eligible voters36,642
New Democratic holdSwing+5.24
Source(s)Source: Elections Alberta

Elections in the 2010s

vte2019 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticShannon Phillips11,01645.22-14.12
United ConservativeKarri Flatla10,79044.29+7.01
Alberta PartyZac Rhodenizer1,7637.24--
LiberalPatricia Chizek4601.89-1.49
IndependenceBen Maddison3321.36--
Total valid votes24,36199.42
Rejected, spoiled, and declined1430.58-0.37
Turnout24,50468.79+13.26
Eligible voters35,623
New Democratic holdSwing-10.57
Source(s)Elections Alberta. .
vte2015 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticShannon Phillips11,11459.34+29.40
Progressive ConservativeGreg Weadick3,93820.97-15.69
WildroseRon Bain3,06316.31-10.41
LiberalSheila Pyne6343.38-2.18
Total valid votes18,77999.05
Rejected, spoiled, and declined1810.95-0.08
Registered electors / turnout34,14655.53+0.81
New Democratic gain from Progressive ConservativeSwing+22.54
Source(s)Elections Alberta. .
vte2012 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Weadick5,81036.66-7.03
New DemocraticShannon Phillips4,74629.95+19.65
WildroseKevin Kinahan4,23526.72+19.25
LiberalBal Boora8815.56-29.57
Alberta PartyDavid Walters1771.12
Total valid votes15,84998.97
Rejected, spoiled, and declined1651.03+0.62
Turnout16,01454.72+20.84
Eligible voters29,267
Progressive Conservative holdSwing-13.34
Source(s)Elections Alberta. .

Elections in the 2000s

vte2008 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Weadick5,00243.69+3.84
LiberalBal Boora4,02235.13+2.34
New DemocraticJames Moore1,17910.30-1.96
WildroseMatt Fox8557.47-0.78
GreensBrennan Tilley3923.42-0.05
Total votes11,45099.59
Rejected, spoiled and declined470.41-0.17
Turnout11,49733.88-11.62
Eligible voters33,94
Progressive Conservative holdSwing+0.75
Source(s). Elections Alberta.
2004 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeClint Dunford4,41139.85-8.22
LiberalBal Boora3,62932.78-6.74
New DemocraticMark Sandlands1,35712.26+4.62
Alberta AllianceMerle Terlesky9138.25
GreensAndrew Sheridan3853.48
Social CreditScott Sawatsky3753.39
Total valid votes11,07099.43
Rejected, spoiled and declined640.57+0.42
Turnout11,13445.50-11.20
Eligible voters24,471
Progressive Conservative holdSwing-0.74
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.
2001 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeClint Dunford6,68548.08+2.76
LiberalLeslie Vaala5,49639.53+1.51
New DemocraticMark Sandilands1,0627.64+1.21
Alberta FirstBrian Stewart6624.76-3.56
Total valid votes13,90599.85
Rejected, spoiled, and declined210.15
Turnout13,92656.70+1.12
Eligible voters24,561
Progressive Conservative holdSwing+0.63
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.

Elections in the 1990s

1997 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeClint Dunford5,67945.31+3.39
LiberalLeslie Vaala4,76538.02-2.92
Social CreditBrian Stewart1,0438.32
New DemocraticTom Hovan8066.43-2.35
GreensDon Ferguson2401.91
Total valid votes12,533
Eligible electors / Turnout22,54955.58+0.38
Progressive Conservative holdSwing+3.15
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.
1993 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeClint Dunford4,64341.92-3.52
LiberalMichael Dietrich4,53440.94+10.17
New DemocraticJacqueline Preyde9738.78-15.01
IndependentJason Kempt9268.36
Total11,07699.56
Rejected, spoiled and declined490.44+0.25
Turnout11,12555.20+7.23
Eligible voters20,154
Progressive Conservative holdSwing-6.84
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.

Elections in the 1980s

1989 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Gogo4,74145.44-3.20
LiberalRhonda Ruston3,21030.76+11.56
New DemocraticJoyce Green2,48323.80-0.60
Total valid votes10,43499.75
Rejected, spoiled and declined260.25-0.03
Turnout10,46047.97+9.68
Eligible voters21,805
Progressive Conservative holdSwing-7.38
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.
1986 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Gogo3,99948.64-20.89
New DemocraticEd Webking2,00624.40+8.96
LiberalNora Galenzoski1,57919.20
RepresentativeDouglas Pitt5326.47+2.45
Confederation of RegionsNora Galenzoski1061.29
Total valid votes8,22299.72
Rejected, spoiled and declined230.28+0.06
Turnout8,24538.29-23.39
Eligible voters21,535
Progressive Conservative holdSwing-14.92
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.
1982 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Gogo8,30269.53+4.88
New DemocraticIan Whishaw1,84415.44+4.39
Western Canada ConceptG.M. Genstad9387.86
Social CreditJerry Waldern4804.02-14.47
Alberta Reform MovementBrenda Perkins3773.16
Total valid votes11,94199.78
Rejected, spoiled and declined260.22+0.14
Turnout11,96761.68+7.10
Eligible voters19,403
Progressive Conservative holdSwing+0.24
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.

Elections in the 1970s

1979 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Gogo5,68264.65+5.23
Social CreditJerry Waldern1,62518.49-10.01
New DemocraticRon Clark97111.05-1.04
LiberalBob Wilson5115.81
Total valid votes8,78999.92
Rejected, spoiled and declined70.08-1.86
Turnout8,79654.58-9.92
Eligible voters16,117
Progressive Conservative holdSwing+7.62
Source(s). Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
1975 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Gogo3,99159.42+23.17
Social CreditRichard Gruenwald1,91428.49-26.43
New DemocraticIan Whishaw81212.09+3.26
Total valid votes6,71798.06
Rejected, spoiled and declined1331.94+0.96
Turnout6,85064.49-8.76
Eligible voters10,621
Progressive Conservative gain from Social CreditSwing+24.80
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.
1971 Alberta general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Social CreditRichard Gruenwald4,16954.93
Progressive ConservativeR.J. Gray2,75136.25
New DemocraticKlaas Buijert6708.83
Total valid votes7,59099.02
Rejected, spoiled and declined750.98
Turnout7,66573.25
Eligible voters10,464
Social Credit pickup new district.
Source(s). Canadian Elections Database.

Senate nominee election results

2004

2004 Senate nominee election results: Lethbridge-WestTurnout 45.59%
CandidateVotes% votes% ballotsRank
Progressive ConservativeBert Brown3,23313.26%38.29%1
IndependentLink Byfield2,94612.08%34.89%4
Progressive ConservativeBetty Unger2,90611.92%34.41%2
IndependentTom Sindlinger2,74111.24%32.46%9
Alberta AllianceVance Gough2,2639.28%26.80%8
Alberta AllianceMichael Roth2,2059.04%26.11%7
Progressive ConservativeCliff Breitkreuz2,1698.90%25.69%3
Progressive ConservativeDavid Usherwood2,0438.38%24.20%6
Progressive ConservativeJim Silye1,9708.08%23.33%5
Alberta AllianceGary Horan1,9057.82%22.56%10
Total votes24,381100%
Total ballots8,4442.89 votes per ballot
Rejected, spoiled and declined2,712

Voters had the option of selecting four candidates on the ballot

Student vote results

2004

Participating schools
GS Lakie Middle School

On November 19, 2004, a student vote was conducted at participating Alberta schools to parallel the 2004 Alberta general election results. The vote was designed to educate students and simulate the electoral process for persons who have not yet reached the legal majority. The vote was conducted in 80 of the 83 provincial electoral districts with students voting for actual election candidates. Schools with a large student body that reside in another electoral district had the option to vote for candidates outside of the electoral district then where they were physically located.

2004 Alberta student vote results
AffiliationCandidateVotes%
Progressive ConservativeClint Dunford18434.26%
LiberalBal Boora13324.77%
NDPMark Sandilands7513.97%
GreenAndrew Sheridan6111.36%
Social CreditScott Sawatsky448.19%
Alberta AllianceMerle Terlesky407.45%
Total537100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined19

See also

External links

49°42′N 112°48′W/49.7°N 112.8°W/ 49.7; -112.8