Battle River-Crowfoot By-Election Results: Poilievre Wins 80%

A federal by-election in rural Alberta gave Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre the second chance he needed to return to Parliament. With more than 214 candidates on the ballot — an unusually crowded field — the August 18 vote sent a clear signal about the riding’s steadfast support for the Conservatives.

By-election date: August 18, 2025 ·
Winner: Pierre Poilievre (Conservative) ·
Vote share: Approximately 80% ·
Riding location: Alberta, Canada ·
Previous MP (2026 general election): Damien Kurek (Conservative)

A quick look at the key figures shows just how lopsided the race was.

What were the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election results in 2025?

Final vote count and winner

Elections Canada validated 51,085 valid votes and 211 rejected ballots, for a total of 51,296 ballots cast. Pierre Poilievre captured 41,308 of those valid votes, a commanding 80.86% share. The result was called swiftly on election night, with CTV News reporting Poilievre leading with roughly 80% of the vote while ballots were still being tallied (CTV News YouTube).

Vote share breakdown by party

The battle for second place went to independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who received 5,018 votes (9.82%). NDP candidate Darcy Spady finished third with 2,095 votes (4.10%). Other parties — including the Liberals, Greens, and the People’s Party — each took less than 3% of the vote.

The implication: Poilievre’s margin was so wide that even the combined opposition vote barely dented his total. For the other parties, the by-election was essentially a contest for distant second.

Comparison with 2021 general election results

In the 2021 general election, Conservative candidate Damien Kurek won Battle River-Crowfoot with 73.7% of the vote (Wikipedia). Poilievre’s 80.86% therefore represents a gain of more than seven percentage points for the party. The trend continued into the 2026 general election, where Kurek — who had resigned to trigger the by-election — was re-elected with 82.8% (Oyen Echo). The riding’s Conservative loyalty has only strengthened over time.

The pattern: Battle River-Crowfoot is not just a safe seat — it is one of the safest Conservative seats in the country, and its voters consistently deliver a stronger mandate than the national average.

Who were the candidates in the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election?

List of registered candidates

Elections Canada reported a staggering 214 candidates on the ballot. This made the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election one of the most crowded ballots in Canadian federal electoral history. The sheer number was driven by a large slate of fringe and independent candidates.

Party affiliations

Major-party candidates included Poilievre (Conservative), Bonnie Critchley (independent), and Darcy Spady (New Democratic Party). The Liberal, Green, and People’s Party of Canada also fielded candidates. Grant Abraham ran for the United Party of Canada and received 757 votes.

The catch: with 214 names on the ballot, it is likely many voters found the ballot confusing or intimidating. Turnout data will tell whether that affected participation.

When was the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election held?

By-election date and timeline

Voting day was August 18, 2025. Advance polling stations were open on previous days, and special ballots were available for those unable to vote in person. The official validation of results took place on August 23, 2025.

Reason for the by-election

The by-election was called after then-MP Damien Kurek, who won the riding in the 2025 general election, resigned his seat to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a safe seat after losing his own riding of Carleton in Ontario (Oyen Echo). This political maneuvering ensured that Poilievre could return to the House of Commons and reassume his role as Leader of the Official Opposition.

What this means: the by-election was less about local representation and more about national party leadership strategy.

What did the election polls say about Battle River-Crowfoot?

Pre-election polling data

Public opinion surveys consistently showed the Conservatives with a commanding lead in the riding. No major poll suggested any risk of a loss. CTV News reported on election night that Poilievre was leading with about 80% of the vote as results trickled in (CTV News YouTube).

Poll accuracy and final results

The final validated result of 80.86% closely matched the polling projections. There were no notable polling surprises. The only minor uncertainty concerned the order of the minor candidates, but the winner was never in doubt.

Factors influencing voter preferences

Battle River-Crowfoot is a sprawling rural riding in Alberta, a province that has been a Conservative stronghold in federal politics for decades. The riding’s demographic profile — older, rural, socially conservative — aligns closely with the Conservative base (Coast Reporter / Canadian Press).

The trade-off: Poilievre’s return to Parliament through a safe seat reinforces the perception that the Conservative Party is increasingly dependent on rural Alberta for its leadership cadre.

How many candidates ran in the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election?

Total number of candidates

The by-election featured 214 candidates on the ballot, according to Elections Canada records. This is far higher than the typical 4-6 candidates in most Canadian by-elections.

Comparison with previous elections

In the 2021 general election, Battle River-Crowfoot had five candidates. The 2025 general election saw a similar number. The by-election’s explosion to 214 candidates appears to be driven by a combination of protest candidates and independent hopefuls looking for a platform.

The pattern: such a large ballot may have depressed turnout and raised concerns about the electoral process, though no formal complaints have been reported.

For the Conservative Party, Poilievre’s return to the House of Commons solidifies its hold on rural Alberta. But the massive 214-candidate ballot and uncertain voter turnout raise questions about the health of local democracy in the riding. The trade-off is clear: an easy win for the leader, but at the cost of an electoral process that many voters may have found overwhelming. For Albertans in Battle River-Crowfoot, the choice remains straightforward — but the path to it is increasingly unconventional.