1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election

1998 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election

October 24 & November 14, 1998

30,100 points
15,051 point votes needed to win
  PC
Candidate Joe Clark David Orchard
Second ballot points 23,321
(77.5%)
6,779
(22.5%)
First ballot points 14,592
(48.5%)
4,916
(16.3%)

 
Candidate Hugh Segal Brian Pallister
Second ballot points Withdrew Withdrew
First ballot points 5,689
(18.9%)
3,676
(12.2%)

Leader before election

Elsie Wayne (interim)

Elected Leader

Joe Clark

1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election
DateFirst ballot:
October 24, 1998
Second ballot:
November 14, 1998
ConventionOttawa
Resigning leaderJean Charest
Won byJoe Clark
Ballots2
Candidates5
Entrance feeC$30,000
Spending limitNone

The 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on October 24 and November 14, 1998 to choose a successor to Jean Charest. This was the first time the Progressive Conservatives used a one member, one vote system to choose a leader rather than a delegated leadership convention, which has been the norm since 1927. The 1998 election used a point system that allocated 100 points to each riding, regardless of the number of votes cast in the riding. The candidate who won a majority of points (not necessarily a majority of voters) would win the leadership. All party members were eligible to cast a vote. If no candidate received a majority of points on the first ballot, the lowest ranking candidate would be automatically eliminated and a second ballot was to be held using a preferential ballot if more than two candidates remained. The 100-point-per-riding system was again used by the Conservative Party of Canada in their leadership elections.