2022 Liberal Democratic Party of Superior leadership election
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The 2022 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election took place from Feburary 28 to March 6 in order to determine who would become the next Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Superior. The election was triggered on November 28, 2021 after party leader Jennifer Granholm's resignation to the National Executive Committee was accepted three days after it was announced and she was succeded by Quentin Bradshaw as acting party leader. Both Bradshaw and NEC chairwoman Penelope Whitmer both stated that a formal leadership election will be held after the 2022 Superian federal election on January 3 with Bradshaw seeking to be elected to a full-term.
Bradshaw was the first candidate to enter into the race with four other candidates following. Other prominent Liberal Democratic officials have been speculated or have an announcement is pending. The election will use a ranked-choice voting system in regards to determining who will be elected the party's leader. A deputy leadership election is expect to take place following the leadership election.
The 2022 Liberal Democratic National Convention was held on March 12 in order to determine the winner of the election, however it was a contested convention as both Bradshaw and Reeves, the winners of the biggest percentages and total number of votes in the election, went in without a clear majority. In Liam Bighorn, who came in third, controversially refused to endorse either Bradshaw or Reeves and so negotiations were held between both candidates where Bighorn endorsed Bradshae, pledging his delegates towards him. The convention ended with Bradshaw being re-elected to a full-term as leader of the LDP, but Reeves' strong performance convinced him to form the National Unity Commission and have Reeves play a role in Bradshaw's Build Back Better plan, allowing representation for the party's progressive faction.
Background
On September 14, 2021, a private phonecall was leaked by an anonymous member of the Duluth Standard between President Jennifer Granholm and Governor Anna Cooper of Arrowhead. In the phonecall, Granholm is heard threatening to "come down on your blue paradise" and loosely implies that the Democratic Protection Initiative, a voting rigths campaign and initiative started by Granholm, was a selfish act to improve her approval ratings and vilify her political opponents. The leaked call went viral leading to a scandal now known as Courtgate of which Granholm's response on September 16 claiming that the leaking was a breach of confidential interpolitical discussion and threatened legal action in response. The response was met with near-universal backlash and Granholm largely withdrew from the public's attention and spotlight until November 25 when she announced her resignation on Thanksgiving during her address for the holiday and declared that Deputy President Quentin Bradshaw would be her successor as acting party leader.
Immediately following Granholm's announcement, a leadership election would be called. Bradshaw would also immediately declare his candidacy for the leadership position. A few days later on November 29, Deputy Leader Elizabeth Whitmer also announced her candidacy, and a day later Secretary of Indigenous Affairs Liam Bighorn would also announce his campaign. On December 3, House Delegate Michael Reeves would announce his candidacy. Reeves, who was a vocal opponent of the leadership of Granholm, was the first candidate to identify as a member of the left wing Progressive Liberal Democrats. Fellow PLD and house delegate Margaret Su would also announce her intentions to run on December 6.
In the 2022 federal election, the Liberal Democratic Party would suffer a historic defeat, losing a net total of eleven seats and losing control of the government to the opposing United Conservative Party. Though Liberal Democratic losses were attributed to Granholm and the party's continued support for her, many progressives in the party blamed Bradshaw for the loss, with Michael Reeves using the loss as a campaign talking point against Bradshaw. On February 12, it was announced that the election would begin on February 28 and end on March 6.
Candidates
Finalists
| Name | Born | Experience | Home state | Campaign Announcement date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Quentin Bradshaw |
January 28, 1965 ( age 59) New Brandenburg, New Hanover |
Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (2021–present) Leader of the Opposition (2022–present) Deputy President of Superior (2015–2022) MP from Bayfield (2007–present) |
.svg) New Hanover |
Campaign Announced November 28, 2021 |
.jpg) Michael Reeves |
May 15, 1984 (age 40) New Hamburg |
MP for New Berlin (2019–present) State Representative for the 23rd district (2011–2019) |
 Lansing |
Campaign Announced December 3, 2021 |
Eliminated in primary
| Name | Born | Experience | Home state | Announcement | Campaign Withdrawal date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Liam Bighorn |
June 18, 1968 (age 56) Pine Ridge, Lakota |
Secretary of Indigenous Affairs (2020–2022) |  Lakota |
November 30, 2021 | Campaign Withdrew March 5, 2022 |
Withdrew
- Elizabeth Whitmer, Deputy Leader of the LDP (2019–present) (endorsed Bradshaw)
- Margaret Su, Member of the House of Delegates for Fitchburg (2015–present) (endorsed Reeves)
Declined
- Elena Dawson, Commerce and Labor Secretary (2021–2022) (endorsed Bradshaw)
- Andrew Justin, Secretary of Housing Management (2020–2022) (endorsed Bradshaw)
- Connor Westing, TBD Speaker of the House of Delegates (2019–present)
- Marcus Travis, Lord Attorney General of Superior (2015–2022)
- Mary Waterson, Secretary of Education (2015–2022)
- Blake Whitmore, Ambassador to the United Commonwealth from Superior (2017–present)
Endorsements
Timeline
2021
- November 25 – Jennifer Granholm announces her resignation in her 2021 Thanksgiving Presidential Address.
- November 28 – Granholm's resignation is accepted by the NEC, Bradshaw is sworn in as acting leader.
- November 29 – Elizabeth Whitmer announces her candidacy.
- November 30 – Liam Bighorn announces his candidacy.
- December 3 – Michael Reeves announces his candidacy.
- December 6 – Margaret Su announces her candidacy
2022
- January 3 – 2022 Superian federal election takes place, resulting in a defeat for the Liberal Democratic Party
- January 7 – The 41st Parliament of Superior is sworn in.
- February 12 – Election date announced.
- February 28 – The first primary races are held in Eastern Superior.
- Bradshaw narrowly wins the primary race in Uppasala.
- Reeves wins the primary race in Minneapolis.
- Bradhsaw and Reeves are tied in the primary race in Rochester.
- March 2 – Second round of primary raceds are held.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in Arrowhead.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in New Anjou.
- Primary race in Iowa reuslts in a tie, recount schedueled.
- March 3 – Third round of primary races are held.
- Recount in Iowa is held to determine the winner.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in Lansing.
- Reeves wins the primary race in New Hanover.
- Iowa recount ends with Bradshaw winning.
- Stu drops out of the race, endorses Reeves.
- March 4 – Fourth round of primary races are held.
- Liam Bighorn wins the primary race in Dakota.
- Bighorn wins the primary race in Lakota.
- Whitmer withdraws from the race, endorses Bradshaw.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in Nebraska.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in Frontier.
- March 5 – Final primary races are held.
- Bradshaw wins primary race in Montana.
- Bradshaw wins the primary race in Wyoming.
- Liam Bighorn is eliminated from the convention.
- March 6 – Helene primary is held
- Bradshaw wins the primnary, becomes presumptive party leader.