Liberal leader Willard Reaves trying to intercept River Heights seat from NDP

New Manitoba Liberal Leader Willard Reaves is hoping to take back the River Heights seat that the party lost in 2023. Jeff Keele has more.

Manitoba Liberals leader Willard Reaves is running a different route.

The former Winnipeg Blue Bomber has been at the helm of the provincial party for a few months but does not have a seat in the legislature.

As a previous candidate, Reaves ran twice in his backyard in Fort Whyte. He lost in a 2022 byelection and then in the 2023 general election, both times to PC leader Obby Khan.

Now he’s putting his name forward in River Heights, a seat former Liberal leader and MLA Jon Gerarrd held onto for nearly two and a half decades before the NDP took it in the last election.

“Jon’s been my mentor, and to be in a riding where he has done unbelievable, great work, you know, I plan on continuing that,” Reaves said.

Pollster Curtis Brown says the switch from Fort Whyte to River Heights is logical.

“There is a certain base of Liberal support there in the province, probably more so than in Linden Woods, in the Fort Whyte riding, so yeah, it makes sense,” he said.

Gerrard is backing Reaves.

“I’m excited about Willard running in River Heights,” he told CTV News

“There’s lots of Liberals in River Heights.”

Gerrard is also planning on door knocking with Reaves

“I’m certainly ready to do what I can,” he said.

But Brown says it will be a challenge for Reaves to beat incumbent NDP MLA and cabinet minister Mike Moroz.

“It’s still going to be pretty tricky, especially if the NDP remains as popular as they are,” Brown said.

Reaves believes he can show voters a third option is the best choice. As leader, he says it’s crucial he wins a seat.

“I think it’s very critical to start things off in a great way for Manitoba,” he said.

“We have to have the representation.”

The party is holding a joint nomination meeting Wednesday in River Heights for Reaves and the party’s lone MLA in Tyndall Park, Cindy Lamoureux.

Liberal candidate Jasbir Singh is also set to be nominated at that event.