FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservatives are poised to elect their new party leader this afternoon in Fredericton. Current Opposition finance critic Don Monahan and former legislator Daniel Allain are both vying for the party leadership. The party has had an interim leader ever since former premier Blaine Higgs stepped down following the Tories’ defeat in the 2024 election. Mario Levesque, who published a book on New Brunswick politics this year, says the new leader will need to unite a party split between two different visions. The Mount Allison University political science professor says Monahan is aligned with Higgs and the more socially conservative wing of the party. Meanwhile, Levesque says Allain is an experienced, moderate Tory in the mould of past PC premiers like David Alward and Bernard Lord. But he says it may be more challenging for Allain and the moderates to unite the party since social conservatives may not want to play ball. Levesque expects it will be a close race. Interim party leader Glen Savoie brushed aside any concerns about party unity, saying the Opposition will focus on defeating Premier Susan Holt’s Liberals. New Brunswick’s next provincial election must occur by October 2028. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026. Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press
