The United Conservative Party of Alberta confirmed three candidates for its leadership race as the clock ticked down on the application deadline.
Travis Toews, Danielle Smith and Brian Jean were confirmed as candidates before Wednesday’s deadline.
Toews stepped down as finance minister at the end of May to run, while Jean is currently the UCP member of the legislature for Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche and Smith is a former leader of Alberta’s Wildrose Party.
Rajan Sawhney, Rebecca Schulz, Todd Loewen and Leela Aheer say they have submitted the required number of signatures and are waiting to be confirmed as candidates.
Both Sawney and Schultz came out of Premier Jason Kenney’s office to run, while Ahir is on the UCP caucus and Lowen is a party member but sits in the house as an independent.
Two other candidates — former Legislature member Raj Sherman and former investment banker John Horsman — struggled to collect the required minimum of 1,000 signatures from supporters.
Horsman announced Wednesday afternoon that he was leaving.
The deadline was 5 p.m. Wednesday for candidates to submit a package of forms and consent documents along with at least 1,000 signatures from across Alberta and at least $75,000 for an entry fee and good behavior deposit.
The party is due to choose a replacement for Prime Minister Jason Kenney, who announced in May that he was leaving the top job after receiving 51 percent support in a party leadership review.
The result came after months of political turmoil in the UCP, which was formed in 2017 when the Wildrose Party merged with the Progressive Conservative Party.
A new leader is due to be elected on October 6 following a postal vote.
Party members will also be able to vote in person at one of the five polling stations that will be located across the province.
The next provincial election is scheduled for May 29, 2023.
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