Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership elections

This page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (known as the Conservative Party of Ontario before 1942).

Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus. In 1914, William Hearst was selected at a meeting of the province's executive council (or cabinet) as James Whitney, the previous leader, had died while holding the office of Premier of Ontario.

All of the party's leadership races before 1990 were determined by delegated conventions. The leadership races of 1990, 2002 and 2004 were determined by a weighted vote of all party members, with each constituency contributing an equal number of "votes" to the total. The 1990 race was decided in one round, while the 2002 race took two. For the 2004 election, the party introduced a preferential balloting system, such that party members would only be required to vote one time.

(Held on December 2, 1920.)

(Note: The vote totals were not announced.)

When Ferguson resigned as Premier in 1930, he selected George Henry as his replacement. Henry was subsequently confirmed as party leader at a special Meeting on June 24, 1931.

(Held on May 28, 1936 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)

First ballot:

Second ballot:

(Held on December 9, 1938, at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)

(Held on April 27, 1949.)

(Held on October 25, 1961.)

First ballot:

Second ballot:

Third ballot:

Fourth ballot:

Fifth ballot:

Sixth ballot:

(Held on February 12, 1971.)

(Held in Toronto on January 26, 1985.)

First ballot:

Second ballot (McMurtry supports Grossman):

(Note: These figures were confirmed by a recount.)

Third ballot (Timbrell supports Grossman):

(Held on November 16, 1985.)

First ballot:

Second ballot:

(Held on May 12, 1990.)

(the non-weighted vote totals were: Harris 8,661, Cunningham 7,189)

The 1990 vote was the first held on the basis of one member one vote with votes weighted so that each riding had equal weight.

(Held on March 23, 2002.)

First ballot:

(Note: After the first ballot, Clement and Witmer both withdrew from the contest and supported Ernie Eves. Their names remained on the ballot for at least a part of the second round, however.)

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