Alberta Party declines to run candidate in Calgary-Lougheed byelection

An upcoming byelectionwith three provincial party leaders on the ballot will go ahead without a candidate from theAlberta Party.

"With Greg Clark's announcement to step down and trigger a leadership election, we wish to direct all available party resources towards running a dynamic and successful leadership election," the party said in a release Tuesday.

• Calgary-Lougheed byelection called for Dec. 14
• Alberta Liberal Party Leader to face United Conservative Party Leader in Calgary byelection

The Alberta Party statement said the decision was not an easy one, but the Calgary-Lougheedrace was considered a "foregone conclusion."

United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenneyis considered by many to be the front-runner, as the election was triggered when former UCP MLA Dave Rodney resigned to give the newly elected leader a chance to vie for a seat in the Alberta Legislature.

Kenney is facing two other seatlessleaders in the Dec. 14 vote:Alberta Liberal Party LeaderDavid Khan and Green Party of Alberta Leader Romy Tittel, who announced her candidacy on Sunday.

Dr.Phillip van der Merwe is also running in the byelection under theNDPbanner.

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