The 2018 Alberta Party leadership election occurred on February 27, 2018. It was triggered when outgoing Alberta Party leader Greg Clark announced on November 18, 2017, that he will be resigning as soon as his successor is chosen. According to published reports, Clark was pushed out by the party's board of directors as a result of a surge of former Progressive Conservatives joining the party following the PC party's merger into the United Conservative Party.[2] While Clark initially stated that he was considering standing again for the leadership, he announced on December 14, 2017, that he will not be a candidate.[3][4] The election is set to be held on February 27, 2018, after originally being scheduled to be on February 7.[5]
There was a $10,000 entry fee, $5,000 of which was a refundable performance bond.[6]
Jacob Huffman, a University of Calgary student who was previously active with the Alberta Liberals,[14] registered his candidacy on December 5, 2017.[15][10] Although Huffman registered his candidacy, he did not submit the package in time to qualify for the race.[7]