Manitoba byelection the first since Heather Stefanson became Tory leader, premier

Voters in one area of Winnipeg go to the polls Tuesday in a Manitoba byelection.

The contest in the Fort Whyte constituency is the first byelection since Heather Stefanson became Progressive Conservative leader and premier last fall.

Fort Whyte has always been a Tory stronghold and was last held by former premier Brian Pallister.

Royce Koop, who teaches political studies at the University of Manitoba, says the opposition parties have a chance this time because government support has dropped during the pandemic.

3:09 Fort Whyte byelection days away; here are the candidates

The Tories are running former football player Obby Khan while the Opposition New Democrats are putting up Trudy Schroeder, a former executive director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The Liberal candidate is another former football player, Willard Reaves, while the Green Party is running Nicolas Geddert, a community organizer and volunteer.

Patrick Allard, a contractor and a critic of COVID-19 restrictions, is running as an independent.

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On Friday, Elections Manitoba told Global News 2,335 votes had been cast in advance voting.

— with files from Global News’ Will Reimer 

3:55 Byelection day in Fort Whyte Riding