OTTAWA – A recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute has revealed that a significant portion of individuals who have historically voted for the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) does not recognize the current leadership candidates. The survey included a sample of 1,100 Canadians who have cast their ballots for the NDP at least once between 2015 and 2025.
The findings show that 44 percent of respondents were unable to name any of the candidates when prompted about who they believed would be the best leader for the party. This lack of name recognition is notable, especially considering that these individuals have participated in NDP elections over the last four election cycles.
Among those who consistently voted for the NDP throughout the decade, name recognition was somewhat higher; however, even within this group, 31 percent of respondents admitted they were not familiar with the leadership candidates. This suggests a challenge for the party in engaging its base and ensuring that voters are informed about the individuals vying for leadership.
The poll indicates that filmmaker Avi Lewis is perceived as the frontrunner among the leadership candidates, with 13 percent of respondents rating him as the candidate who would make the best leader. Following closely behind is Alberta MP Heather McPherson, who garnered 9 percent of the votes in the same category. The relatively low percentages for both candidates indicate a potential struggle for broader recognition and support within the party’s electorate.
The survey was conducted online from March 11 to March 17. The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, notes that online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error, as they do not randomly sample the population. This presents a limitation on how the results can be interpreted in the context of the wider Canadian electorate.
As the NDP leadership race approaches its conclusion, with voting set to wrap up on March 28 and the announcement of the new leader scheduled for March 29, the party faces the crucial task of raising awareness of its leadership candidates among its voter base. This upcoming transition in leadership comes at a pivotal time, as the NDP seeks to solidify its position and engagement with voters heading into future elections.
This report emphasizes the importance of name recognition and candidate visibility for political parties, especially those like the NDP, which may rely on active advocacy and outreach efforts to ensure their leadership candidates resonate with both loyal voters and potential supporters. As the campaign progresses, it will be essential for the NDP to address these challenges and enhance the familiarity of its leadership candidates among the electorate.
