John Middleton-Hope has won the nomination to run for the UCP in the Lethbridge-West by-election. (Photo: John Middleton-Hope)

By David Opinko

John Middleton-Hope secures UCP nomination for Lethbridge-West by-election

Sep 24, 2024 | 8:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – United Conservative Party (UCP) members have chosen their candidate for the Lethbridge-West by-election.

John Middleton-Hope has secured the nomination in what a local party representative said was “the narrowest margin possible.”

He beat Erin Leclerc and Shauna Gruninger in the nomination race.

Middleton-Hope is currently serving his first term on Lethbridge City Council. Prior to that, he spent 29 years in law enforcement and is a former chief of the Lethbridge Police Service.

In a brief statement from the UCP, they say “he has the experience to deliver real results for Lethbridge-West.”

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Premier Danielle Smith adds in a post on X that Middleton-Hope is expected to reclaim the constituency for the UCP and “add another common-sense voice to our team.”

Middleton-Hope will now go on to challenge Rob Miyashiro, who got the Alberta NDP’s nomination earlier this month, in the by-election.

READ MORE: Rob Miyashiro secures NDP Nomination for Lethbridge-West

An exact date for the by-election has yet to be determined, but the provincial government will have to call it before the end of this year.

At the time of publication, no other political parties have announced candidates.

The seat became vacant after former MLA Shannon Phillips resigned at the end of June.

READ MORE: Shannon Phillips resigns as Lethbridge-West MLA

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