Robert Hanlon (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Michael Reeve

NDP Leadership

TRU professor believes federal NDP face uphill battle to re-establish the party

Mar 30, 2026 | 4:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — During the 2025 federal election, the NDP bled voters to the Liberals, losing official party status in the process. With Avi Lewis elected leader on the weekend, the party is looking at a slow rebuild.

2025 was essentially a two-party election, with much of the focus down south of the border, as voters elected a leader they thought could best handle the U.S. president. Looking to the next election, the job for the NDP will be presenting themselves as a viable third option.

“I think they are going to take their time, they are going to hit the streets, get their message out and try to attract voters,” said TRU associate professor Robert Hanlon. “It’s a long uphill battle they face in regaining official party status and bringing voters back. If we look at polling again, we still see the Liberals and Carney quite high. Politics changes and so we will see how the future goes, but they have quite a bit of a battle to get their message out.”

Lewis is attempting to create a ‘big tent’ party on the left side of the political spectrum, attracting voters from the Greens to Liberals.

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“His biggest challenge at the moment will be trying to convince voters they are what he sees as a ‘big tent’ NDP party,” added Hanlon. “That they can be a home for different voters, whether they are workers or those involved in the social justice movement. They are trying to cast that tent, and so time will tell if he is able to do that.”

CFJC will have more on the NDP convention on Tuesday.