Quebec Liberal Party leadership elections explained

Note: Before 1938, the leaders of the Quebec Liberal Party were chosen by the party caucus.

1938 leadership convention

(Held June 11, 1938)

• Adélard Godbout acclaimed

Télesphore-Damien Bouchard and Édouard Lacroix withdrew before balloting.^[1]

1950 leadership convention

(Held May 20, 1950)

• Georges-Émile Lapalme acclaimed

George Carlyle Marler declined nomination; Horace Phillipon, Jean-Marie Nadeau withdrew before balloting.^[2]

1958 leadership convention

(Held May 31, 1958)^[3]

• Jean Lesage 630 (72.2%)
• Paul Gérin-Lajoie 145 (16.6%)
• René Hamel 97 (11.1%)
• Aimé Fauteux 1 (0.1%)

1970 leadership convention

(Held January 17, 1970)^[4]

• Robert Bourassa 843 (53.2%)
• Claude Wagner 455 (28.7%)
• Pierre Laporte 288 (18.1%)

1978 leadership convention

(Held April 15, 1978)^[5]

• Claude Ryan 1,748 (68.4%)
• Raymond Garneau 807 (31.6%)

1983 leadership convention

(Held October 15, 1983)^[6]

• Robert Bourassa 2,138 (75.4%)
• Pierre Paradis 353 (12.5%)
• Daniel Johnson, Jr. 343 (12.1%)

1993 leadership convention

(Held December 14, 1993)

• Daniel Johnson Jr. acclaimed

1998 leadership convention

(Held April 30, 1998)

• Jean Charest acclaimed

2013 leadership convention

See main article: 2013 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election. (Held March 17, 2013)

• Philippe Couillard 1,390 (58.5%)
• Pierre Moreau 523 (22.0%)
• Raymond Bachand 464 (19.5%)

2020 leadership convention

See main article: 2020 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election. Couillard resigned as Liberal leader on October 4, 2018, following his government's defeat in the 2018 provincial election and was initially supposed to take place on May 31, 2020. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership election was initially postponed indefinitely. On May 11, 2020, after candidate Alexandre Cusson withdrew from the race, Dominique Anglade was chosen as Leader by acclamation.^[7]

• Dominique Anglade acclaimed

2025 leadership election

See main article: 2025 Quebec Liberal Party leadership election.

Notes and References

1. News: Godbout Re-named Liberal Head; Lacroix Says Convention Packed . . M. N. Negru . June 13, 1938 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
2. News: Lapalme Is Unanimous Selection As Chief of Quebec Liberal Party . . Abel Vineberg . May 22, 1950 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
3. News: Lesage Chosen Quebec Liberal Leader: Ex-Federal Minister Wins Landslide Victory . . Wilbur Arkison . June 2, 1958 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
4. News: Bourassa Sweeps First Ballot . . Hal Winter . January 19, 1970 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
5. News: Ryan to PQ: I'm Set to Fight . . Claude Arpin . April 17, 1978 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
6. News: Stop Killing Economy, Bourassa Tells PQ . . Anthony Wilson-Smith . October 17, 1983 . 1 . February 22, 2012.
7. News: Dominique Anglade candidate à la direction du Parti libéral du Québec. Radio-Canada. June 26, 2019. Radio-Canada. July 8, 2019. fr-CA.