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This article is the Electoral history of Tommy Douglas, the seventh Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He was the longest-serving Premier of Saskatchewan, from 1944 to 1961.
Douglas led the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in five provincial elections, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960, winning majority governments each time. He was the first of two CCF premiers.
He stood for election to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan six times. He was defeated in his first try, in 1934, but then was elected five times from 1944 to 1960.
In addition to his time in provincial politics, he was a Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Canada from 1935 to 1944, and again from 1962 to 1968, and then from 1969 to 1979.
In 1961, Douglas was elected leader of the newly formed federal New Democratic Party, successor to the CCF. He resigned as Premier to re-enter federal politics, and was succeeded as Premier and leader of the CCF by Woodrow Lloyd.
Douglas led the federal NDP in four federal elections, in 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1968. The NDP remained a third party after each election.
Douglas stood for election to the House of Commons ten times in eight general elections and in two by-elections. He was elected eight times and defeated twice. After retiring from the NDP leadership in 1971, he remained in the Commons until 1979, when he retired from politics, after over forty years of electoral service, both federally and provincially.
Summary edit
Douglas was the longest serving Premier of Saskatchewan, with one consecutive term, from July 10, 1944 to November 7, 1961.[1] He was in office for a total of 17 years, 120 days. He led the CCF in five provincial elections, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960, winning majority governments each time. He is one of only four Saskatchewan premiers to win three or more majority governments, the others being Walter Scott, Allan Blakeney, and Brad Wall.
Prior to entering Saskatchewan provincial politics, Douglas had been a Member of Parliament in the federal Parliament, as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). He was elected twice, in 1935 and 1940, for the federal riding of Weyburn.[2]
In 1942, Douglas contested the leadership of the Saskatchewan Section of the CCF, defeating the incumbent leader, George Hara Williams. He remained a Member of Parliament until May 31, 1944, when he resigned his seat in the House of Commons to enter provincial politics.[3] In the provincial general election of 1944, he led the CCF to a major electoral victory, defeating the Liberal government of Premier Patterson. The CCF won forty-seven of the fifty-two seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the Liberals reduced to only five seats.[4] As Premier, he led the first socialist government in Canada. He led the CCF in five provincial general elections, winning a majority government each time: 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for over seventeen years.
In 1961, Douglas resigned as Premier and was suceeded as Premier and CCF leader by Woodrow Lloyd. Douglas returned to federal politics, becoming the first leader of the newly formed New Democratic Party (NDP), the successor to the CCF. He was leader of the NDP from 1961 to 1971, contesting four general elections. The NDP retained third party status after each general election. Douglas was personally defeated in two elections, in 1962 and 1968, but each time was later re-elected via by-elections. After resigning from the leadership in 1971, he remained in Parliament until 1979. In total, he stood for election in ten federal constituency elections, winning eight and being defeated in two. He was a Member of Parliament for 24 years, 6 months, 30 days.
Douglas retired from politics in 1979, at the age of 74, after over forty years of electoral service both provincially and federally.
Saskatchewan general elections, 1944 to 1960 edit
Douglas led the CCF in five general elections: 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. He won a majority government each time.
1944 General election edit
The 1944 election was one of the most lopsided in Saskatchewan history. The CCF won 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the Liberals reduced to only five seats.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas1 | 47 | 211,364 | 53.13% | |
| Liberal | William John Patterson2 | 5 | 140,901 | 35.42% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Rupert Ramsay | 0 | 42,511 | 10.69% | |
| Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 2,067 | 0.52% | |
| Independent | – | 0 | 705 | 0.18% | |
| Social Credit | Joseph Needham | 0 | 249 | 0.06% | |
| Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 5 | 0.00%3 | |
| Total | 52 | 397,802 | 100.0% | ||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1944 | |||||
1 Member of the federal Parliament until shortly before the election was called; Premier after election.
2 Premier when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.
3 Rounds to zero.
1948 General election edit
Douglas led the CCF in the 1948 election, and again won a majority, but with a much reduced seat count. The Liberals made significant comeback under a new leader, Walter Tucker, but remained the Official Opposition.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas1 | 31 | 236,900 | 47.56% | |
| Liberal | Walter Tucker2 | 19 | 152,400 | 30.60% | |
| Independent | – | 1 | 11,088 | 2.23% | |
| Conservative Liberal | – | 1 | 5,251 | 1.05% | |
| Social Credit | – | 0 | 40,268 | 8.09% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Rupert Ramsay | 0 | 37,986 | 7.63% | |
| Liberal-Progressive Conservative | – | 0 | 9,574 | 1.92% | |
| Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 3,299 | 0.66% | |
| Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 1,301 | 0.26% | |
| Total | 52 | 498,067 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1948 | |||||
1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.
1952 General election edit
In his third general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government, with an increased seat count from the 1948 election. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas1 | 42 | 291,705 | 54.06% | |
| Liberal | Walter Tucker2 | 11 | 211,882 | 39.27% | |
| Social Credit | – | 0 | 21,045 | 3.90% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Alvin Hamilton | 0 | 10,648 | 1.97% | |
| Independent Progressive Conservative | – | 0 | 1,542 | 0.29% | |
| Independent | – | 0 | 1,517 | 0.28% | |
| Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 1,151 | 0.21% | |
| Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 103 | 0.02% | |
| Total | 53 | 539,593 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1952 | |||||
1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.
1956 General election edit
In his fourth general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government, with a reduced seat count from the 1952 election. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition, with a new leader, Alexander Hamilton McDonald.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas1 | 36 | 249,634 | 45.25% | |
| Liberal | Alexander Hamilton McDonald2 | 14 | 167,427 | 30.34% | |
| Social Credit | – | 3 | 118,491 | 21.48% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Alvin Hamilton | 0 | 10,921 | 1.98% | |
| Independent | – | 0 | 4,714 | 0.85% | |
| Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 536 | 0.10% | |
| Total | 53 | 551,723 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1956 | |||||
1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.
1960 General election edit
In his fifth and last general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition under a new leader, Ross Thatcher.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas1 | 37 | 276,846 | 40.76% | |
| Liberal | Ross Thatcher2 | 17 | 221,932 | 32.67% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Martin Pederson | 0 | 94,737 | 13.95% | |
| Social Credit | – | 0 | 83,895 | 12.35% | |
| Independent | – | 0 | 1,417 | 0.21% | |
| Communist | – | 0 | 380 | 0.06% | |
| Total | 54 | 679,207 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1960 | |||||
1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
2 Leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party without seat in the Assembly when election called; Leader of the Opposition after election.
Saskatchewan constituency elections edit
Douglas stood for election to the Legislative Assembly in six general elections, all in the constituency of Weyburn. He was defeated in his first election, in 1934, but was elected in the five general elections from 1944 to 1960.[5]
1934 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal |  Hugh Elliott Eaglesham |
2,281 | 43.89% | |
| Conservative | X Robert Sterritt Leslie | 1,544 | 29.71% | |
| Farmer–Labour | Tommy Douglas | 1,343 | 25.84% | |
| Independent | James Logan Coltart | 29 | 0.56% | |
| Total | 5,197 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1944 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas |
5,605 | 61.63% | |
| Liberal | James Weyburn Adolphe | 3,489 | 38.37% | |
| Total | 9,094 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
1948 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas |
6,273 | 56.31% | |
| Liberal-Progressive Conservative | Fergus Charles Eaglesham | 4,228 | 37.96% | |
| Social Credit | Isabel Paxman | 638 | 5.73% | |
| Total | 11,139 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1952 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas |
6,020 | 59.86% | |
| Liberal | Donald Morrow | 4,037 | 40.14% | |
| Total | 10,057 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1956 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas |
4,930 | 48.17% | |
| Liberal | Junior Herbert Staveley | 4,234 | 41.37% | |
| Social Credit | Gustav Theodore Froese | 1,070 | 10.46% | |
| Total | 10,234 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1960 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas |
5,054 | 48.43% | |
| Liberal | Junior Herbert Staveley | 4,453 | 42.67% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Hugh McGillivray | 621 | 5.95% | |
| Social Credit | William Tabor | 307 | 2.94% | |
| Total | 10,435 | 99.99%1 | ||
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5] | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.
Federal general elections, 1962 to 1968 edit
In 1961, Douglas was elected the first leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). He led the NDP in four federal general elections: 1962, 1963, 1965 and 1968. The NDP under his leadership was a smaller party in the House of Commons.
1962 General election edit
In his first general election as leader of the NDP, Douglas more than doubled the seats won by the NDP, winning nineteen seats, compared to the eight seats won by the CCF in the 1958 election. Douglas was defeated in his own bid for a seat in Regina City, but won a by-election shortly afterwards in Burnaby—Coquitlam.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker1 | 116 | 37.2% | |
| Liberal | Lester B. Pearson2 | 99 | 37.0% | |
| Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 30 | 11.6% | |
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 19 | 13.6% | |
| Liberal–Labour | – | 1 | 0.2% | |
| Total | 265 | 99.6%3 | ||
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1962 General Election | ||||
1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.
1963 General election edit
Less than a year after the 1962 election, Diefenbaker's minority government fell on a motion of non-confidence, triggering the dissolution of Parliament and a general election. Douglas and the NDP held steady in their seat count.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Lester B. Pearson1 | 128 | 41.5% | |
| Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker2 | 95 | 32.8% | |
| Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 24 | 11.9% | |
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 17 | 13.2% | |
| Liberal–Labour | – | 1 | 0.2% | |
| Total | 265 | 99.6%3 | ||
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1963 General Election | ||||
1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.
1965 General election edit
After two years of minority government, Pearson called an election. The result was another hung parliament. The NDP came third in the seat count.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Lester B. Pearson1 | 131 | 40.2% | |
| Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker2 | 97 | 32.4% | |
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 21 | 17.9% | |
| Ralliement créditiste | Réal Caouette | 9 | 4.7% | |
| Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 5 | 3.7% | |
| Independent | – | 1 | 0.7% | |
| Independent PC | – | 1 | 0.2% | |
| Total | 265 | 99.8%3 | ||
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1965 General Election | ||||
1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.
1968 General election edit
In his last general election as leader, the NDP held steady in seats, but Douglas was himself defeated in his own seat. He won a by-election shortly afterward in the riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands and re-entered Parliament.
| Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Pierre Trudeau1 | 154 | 45.4% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Robert L. Stanfield2 | 72 | 31.4% | |
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 22 | 17.0% | |
| Ralliement créditiste | Réal Caouette | 14 | 4.4% | |
| Independent | – | 1 | 0.5% | |
| Liberal-Labour | – | 1 | 0.1% | |
| Total | 264 | 98.8%3 | ||
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1968 General Election | ||||
1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.
Federal constituency elections, 1935 to 1940, 1962 to 1974 edit
Douglas stood for election to the House of Common ten times, in two different provinces (Saskatchewan and British Columbia), and in five different ridings. He was elected eight times and defeated twice.[3]
1935 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas |
7,280 | 45.0% | |
| Liberal | X Edward James Young | 6,979 | 43.14% | |
| Communist | George Beischel | 1,557 | 9.62% | |
| Social Credit | Morton Allison Fletcher | 362 | 2.24% | |
| Total | 16,178 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Weyburn | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1940 General election: Weyburn edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas |
8,509 | 52.10% | |
| Liberal | Thomas Niddrie Metheral | 7,554 | 46.25% | |
| United Reform | John Harrison Hilton | 269 | 1.65% | |
| Total | 16,332 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Weyburn | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1962 General election: Regina City edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | X Ken More |
22,164 | 50.36% | |
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 12,736 | 28.94% | |
| Liberal | Frederick Johnson | 7,529 | 17.11% | |
| Social Credit | Arthur F. Boehme | 1,583 | 3.60% | |
| Total | 44,012 | 100.01%1 | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Regina City | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.
1962 By-election: Burnaby—Coquitlam edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas |
16,313 | 50.43% | |
| Liberal | Warren R. Clark | 8,029 | 24.82% | |
| Social Credit | René J. Gamache | 5,282 | 16.33% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Eric Greenwood | 2,562 | 7.92% | |
| Independent | George D. Burnham | 162 | 0.50% | |
| Total | 32,348 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam | ||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent NDP member, Erhart Regier, to allow Douglas, the party leader, to win a seat in the House of Commons.
Elected.
1963 General Election: Burnaby—Coquitlam edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas |
19,067 | 46.37% | |
| Liberal | Tom Kent | 14,148 | 34.40% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Lyn Morrow | 3,990 | 9.70% | |
| Social Credit | René J. Gamache | 3,917 | 9.53% | |
| Total | 41,122 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1965 General Election: Burnaby—Coquitlam edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas |
22,553 | 52.92% | |
| Liberal | Dick Hayes | 12,090 | 28.37% | |
| Social Credit | James Morris Kennedy | 5,308 | 12.46% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Mike Allen | 2,662 | 6.25% | |
| Total | 42,613 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1968 General Election: Burnaby—Seymour edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Ray Perrault |
17,891 | 45.23% | |
| New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas | 17,753 | 44.89% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Charles MacLean | 3,206 | 8.11% | |
| Social Credit | Ron Price | 702 | 1.77% | |
| Total | 39,552 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Seymour | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent (before redistribution).
1969 By-election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas |
19,730 | 57.03% | |
| Liberal | Eric W. Winch | 12,897 | 37.28% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Magdalenus Verbrugge | 1,966 | 5.68% | |
| Total | 34,593 | 99.99%1 | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands | ||||
By-election was triggered by the death of the incumbent NDP member, Colin Cameron, on July 28, 1968.
Elected.
1 Rounding error.
1972 General Election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas |
25,483 | 56.93% | |
| Progressive Conservative | George MacPherson | 10,179 | 22.74% | |
| Liberal | Bill Matthews | 7,107 | 15.88% | |
| Social Credit | Stockwell Day Sr. | 1,868 | 4.17% | |
| Independent | Ken Hasanen | 125 | 0.28% | |
| Total | 44,762 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent.
1974 General Election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands edit
| Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas |
20,444 | 40.91% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Don L. Taylor | 18,207 | 36.44% | |
| Liberal | Raymond Patrick Kane | 11,028 | 22.07% | |
| Communist | Ernie Knott | 288 | 0.58% | |
| Total | 49,967 | 100.00% | ||
| Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands | ||||
Elected.
X Incumbent
Party leadership conventions edit
1942 Saskatchewan CCF leadership convention edit
In 1942, Douglas challenged George Hara Williams, the leader of the Saskatchewan Section of the CCF for the provincial leadership. He defeated Williams and became provincial leader.
1943 Saskatchewan CCF leadership challenge edit
In 1943, Douglas in turn was challenged for the leadership of the Saskatchewan CCF, by John Brockelbank. Douglas defeated the challenge.
1961 Federal NDP leadership edit
In 1961, Douglas contested the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party, the successor to the CCF. He defeated Hazen Argue by a vote of 1,391 to 380, to become the first leader of the party.
References edit
- ^ Saskatchewan Archives: List of Saskatchewan Premiers.
- ^ Library of Parliament — Parlinfo: History of Federal Ridings Since 1867 — Weyburn..
- ^ a b Library of Parliament — Parlinfo: Thomas Clement (Tommy) Douglas.
- ^ Elections Saskatchewan: Tenth Provincial General Election, June 15, 1944.
- ^ a b c d e f g Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division.