Naomi Rankin
Naomi Rankin | |
---|---|
Leader of the Communist Party – Alberta | |
Assumed office 1992 | |
Preceded by | Norman Brudy |
Personal details | |
Political party | Communist |
Profession | Politician, programmer |
Naomi Rankin (born c. 1953)[1] is a Canadian politician and the leader of the Communist Party – Alberta since 1992. She is the longest-serving political party leader in the province,[2] and has run as a perennial candidate in every federal and provincial election in Alberta since 1982.[3]
Political career[edit]
Rankin became leader of the Communist Party in Alberta in 1992, after the collapse of the Soviet Union sent the party into crisis.[2] Since 1982, she has run in every provincial and federal election for the Communist Party – Alberta and the Communist Party of Canada respectively. Rankin herself usually fields around 100 votes.[4]
In a typical election campaign, Rankin goes door-to-door and distributes pamphlets, as she tries to engage voters in discussions about the party's main platforms.[4] In the 1980s, these included the nationalization of transnational oil and gas companies, and making Alberta a nuclear weapons-free zone.[5] Since then, issues on the Communist Party agenda have included opposing privatization,[6] doubling the corporate tax rate, and making drastic cuts to military spending.[4] She also appears in forums, debates, and media interviews, in which she tries to debunk popular myths about the Communist Party and socialism.[6] As a candidate, Rankin has aimed to spread her message beyond the party's traditional targets such as trade unions, environmental groups, women's organizations, and farmers.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Rankin is widowed with two children, and is retired from her career as a computer programmer.[4] She has lived in Edmonton since 1963.[8] A social activist since her teens, she has been active in peace and women's organizations.[5] Rankin sings in the "Notre Dame des Bananes” choir,[9] which performs songs about social justice,[7][9] and has also sung as a tenor with the Richard Eaton Singers.[10]
Electoral record[edit]
Federal[edit]
2019 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
New Democratic | Heather McPherson | 26,823 | 47.27 | +3.30 | $91,753.90 | |||
Conservative | Sam Lilly | 21,035 | 37.07 | +5.79 | $88,211.43 | |||
Liberal | Eleanor Olszewski | 6,592 | 11.62 | -9.11 | $91,354.39 | |||
Green | Michael Kalmanovitch | 1,152 | 2.03 | -0.27 | $8,919.41 | |||
People's | Ian Cameron | 941 | 1.66 | - | none listed | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 125 | 0.22 | - | none listed | |||
Marxist–Leninist | Dougal MacDonald | 77 | 0.14 | -0.03 | none listed | |||
Total valid votes/expense limit | 56,745 | 99.56 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 250 | 0.44 | +0.05 | |||||
Turnout | 56,995 | 72.26 | +1.27 | |||||
Eligible voters | 78,876 | |||||||
New Democratic hold | Swing | -1.24 | ||||||
Source: Elections Canada[11][12] |
2015 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Mill Woods | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Amarjeet Sohi | 20,423 | 41.24 | +29.52 | $136,379.94 | |||
Conservative | Tim Uppal | 20,331 | 41.06 | -17.88 | $126,472.41 | |||
New Democratic | Jasvir Deol | 6,330 | 12.78 | -12.61 | $55,302.53 | |||
Green | Ralph McLean | 1,096 | 2.21 | -0.78 | $1,671.63 | |||
Independent | Colin Stubbs | 560 | 1.13 | – | $5,091.44 | |||
Libertarian | Allen K.W. Paley | 396 | 0.80 | – | – | |||
Christian Heritage | Peter Downing | 285 | 0.58 | – | $3,798.53 | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 96 | 0.19 | – | – | |||
Total valid votes/expense limit | 49,517 | 99.54 | $206,234.63 | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 227 | 0.46 | – | |||||
Turnout | 49,744 | 67.84 | – | |||||
Eligible voters | 73,323 | |||||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +23.70 | ||||||
These results were subject to a judicial recount,[13] and modified from the validated results in accordance with the Judge's rulings. The margin of Sohi over Uppal increased from 79 votes to 92 votes as a result of the recount.[14] | ||||||||
Source: Elections Canada[15][16] |
2011 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Conservative | Mike Lake | 27,857 | 61.04 | +0.72 | $44,902 | |||
New Democratic | Nadine Bailey | 10,875 | 23.83 | +8.71 | $11,236 | |||
Liberal | Mike Butler | 5,066 | 11.10 | -7.40 | ||||
Green | Christa Baxter | 1,364 | 2.99 | -2.69 | $1,705 | |||
Pirate | Brent Schaffrick | 374 | 0.82 | * | $2,461 | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 100 | 0.22 | -0.16 | $562 | |||
Total valid votes/Expense limit | 45,636 | 99.58 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 191 | 0.42 | +0.07 | |||||
Turnout | 45,827 | 53.13 | +1.03 | |||||
Eligible voters | 85,259 | – | – | |||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -4.00 |
2008 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Conservative | Mike Lake | 25,130 | 60.32 | +1.70 | $80,034 | |||
Liberal | Indira Saroya | 7,709 | 18.51 | -2.64 | $82,941 | |||
New Democratic | Mike Butler | 6,297 | 15.12 | +0.57 | $4,620 | |||
Green | David Allan Hrushka | 2,366 | 5.68 | +1.21 | ||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 157 | 0.38 | +0.19 | $395 | |||
Total valid votes/Expense limit | 41,659 | 100.00 | $84,984 | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 146 | 0.35 | +0.07 | |||||
Turnout | 41,805 | 52.0 | -10.3 |
2006 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Conservative | Mike Lake | 27,191 | 58.62 | +16.13 | $67,482 | |||
Liberal | Amarjit Grewal | 9,809 | 21.15 | -21.67 | $73,522 | |||
New Democratic | Neal Gray | 6,749 | 14.55 | +4.85 | $10,297 | |||
Green | Kate Harrington | 2,073 | 4.47 | -0.19 | $1,347 | |||
Independent | Kyle McLeod | 477 | 1.03 | N/A | $8,055 | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 85 | 0.18 | -0.15 | $280 | |||
Total valid votes | 46,384 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 131 | 0.28 | +0.16 | |||||
Turnout | 46,515 | 62.3 | -2.6 |
2004 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | David Kilgour | 17,555 | 42.82 | – | $65,152 | |||
Conservative | Tim Uppal | 17,421 | 42.49 | – | $66,701 | |||
New Democratic | Paul Reikie | 3,975 | 9.70 | – | $4,138 | |||
Green | Michael Garfinkle | 1,911 | 4.65 | – | $788 | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 135 | 0.33 | – | $751 | |||
Total valid votes | 40,997 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 181 | 0.44 | ||||||
Turnout | 41,178 | 59.67 |
2000 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Alliance | Peter Goldring | 17,768 | 42.43 | -2.14 | $58,345 | |||
Liberal | Sue Olsen | 14,323 | 34.20 | -0.38 | $57,858 | |||
New Democratic | Ray Martin | 7,304 | 17.44 | +5.65 | $56,287 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Kevin Mahfouz | 2,252 | 5.37 | -1.93 | $1,688 | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 222 | 0.53 | – | $238 | |||
Total valid votes | 41,869 | 100.00 | – | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 156 | 0.37 | +0.15 | |||||
Turnout | 42,025 | 53.42 | +1.73 |
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997.
1997 Canadian federal election: Edmonton—Strathcona | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Reform | Rahim Jaffer | 20,605 | 41.30 | +1.95 | $58,003 | |||
Liberal | Ginette Rodger | 17,654 | 35.38 | −3.12 | $58,244 | |||
New Democratic | Jean McBean | 7,251 | 14.53 | +9.48 | $42,936 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Edo Nyland | 3,614 | 7.24 | −4.05 | $10,183 | |||
Green | Karina Gregory | 406 | 0.81 | +0.23 | $520 | |||
Natural Law | Maury Shapka | 153 | 0.30 | −0.29 | ||||
Independent | Naomi Rankin | 115 | 0.23 | +0.05 | $1,732 | |||
Canadian Action | J. Alex Ford | 92 | 0.18 | – | $845 | |||
Total valid votes | 49,890 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 101 | 0.20 | ||||||
Turnout | 49,991 | 62.74 |
1993 Canadian federal election: Edmonton—Strathcona | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Reform | Hugh Hanrahan | 19,531 | 39.35 | +17.10 | ||||
Liberal | Chris Peirce | 19,113 | 38.50 | +20.61 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Scott Thorkelson | 5,604 | 11.29 | −22.17 | ||||
New Democratic | Rita Egan | 2,508 | 5.05 | −20.27 | ||||
National | Adrian Greenwood | 2,131 | 4.29 | |||||
Natural Law | Maury Shapka | 292 | 0.59 | |||||
Green | Harry Garfinkle | 287 | 0.58 | +0.28 | ||||
Independent | Naomi Rankin | 90 | 0.18 | |||||
Canada Party | Oran K. Johnson | 83 | 0.17 | |||||
Total valid votes | 49,639 | 100.00 |
1988 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Ross Harvey | 15,051 | 38.20 | +15.14 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | William Lesick | 14,394 | 36.53 | -11.95 | ||||
Liberal | Peggy Blair | 7,167 | 18.19 | +0.14 | ||||
Reform | Elaine Sim | 1,728 | 4.39 | |||||
Christian Heritage | Ron Romanow | 798 | 2.03 | |||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 123 | 0.31 | -0.07 | ||||
Independent | Bernie Sawatzky | 88 | 0.22 | |||||
Confederation of Regions | Robert J. Yanew | 53 | 0.13 | -0.59 | ||||
Total valid votes | 39,402 | 100.00 |
Provincial[edit]
2019 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Strathcona | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Rachel Notley | 14,724 | 72.27% | −10.14% | ||||
United Conservative | Kulshan Gill | 3,481 | 17.09% | 3.58% | ||||
Alberta Party | Prem Pal | 1,139 | 5.59% | – | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Gary Horan | 297 | 1.46% | −12.14% | ||||
Liberal | Samantha Hees | 239 | 1.17% | −2.82% | ||||
Green | Stuart Andrews | 227 | 1.11% | – | ||||
Independence | Ian Smythe | 86 | 0.42% | – | ||||
Alberta Advantage | Don Edward Meister | 62 | 0.30% | – | ||||
Communist | Naomi J. Rankin | 61 | 0.30% | – | ||||
Wildrose | Dale Doan | 57 | 0.28% | – | ||||
Independent | Gord McLean | 49 | 0.24% | – | ||||
Total valid ballots cast | 20,422 | – | – | |||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 111 | 60 | 17 | |||||
Eligible electors / turnout | 31,695 | 65.03% | 14.56% | |||||
New Democratic hold | Swing | −6.82% | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: "44 - Edmonton-Strathcona, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |
2015 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Mill Woods | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Christina Gray | 9,930 | 64.86% | 50.72% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Sohail Quadri | 2,920 | 19.07% | -16.14% | ||||
Wildrose | Baljit Sall | 1,437 | 9.39% | -11.21% | ||||
Liberal | Roberto Maglalang | 850 | 5.55% | -15.74% | ||||
Independent | Aura Leddy | 129 | 0.84% | – | ||||
Communist | Naomi J. Rankin | 44 | 0.29% | – | ||||
Total | 15,310 | – | – | |||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 55 | 30 | 22 | |||||
Eligible electors / Turnout | 28,130 | 54.70% | 0.10% | |||||
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | 17.09% | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: "41 - Edmonton-Mill Woods, 2015 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. Chief Electoral Officer (2016). 2015 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (PDF) (Report). Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta. |
2012 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Mill Creek | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Gene Zwozdesky | 6,623 | 55.06% | 4.28% | ||||
Wildrose | Adam Corsaut | 2,193 | 18.23% | – | ||||
Liberal | Mike Butler | 1,640 | 13.63% | -16.42% | ||||
New Democratic | Evelinne Teichgraber | 1,336 | 11.11% | -2.39% | ||||
Alberta Party | Judy Wilson | 194 | 1.61% | – | ||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 43 | 0.36% | 0.05% | ||||
Total | 12,029 | – | – | |||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 117 | – | – | |||||
Eligible electors / turnout | 25,250 | 48.10% | 2.44% | |||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | 8.05% | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: "Elections Alberta 2012 General Election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. "40 - Edmonton-Mill Creek". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 4, 2020. |
2008 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Mill Creek | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Gene Zwozdesky | 6,857 | 50.78% | 8.70% | ||||
Liberal | Aman Gill | 4,058 | 30.05% | -5.55% | ||||
New Democratic | Stephen Anderson | 1,822 | 13.49% | -0.69% | ||||
Green | Glen Argan | 726 | 5.38% | – | ||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 41 | 0.30% | – | ||||
Total | 13,504 | – | – | |||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 90 | – | – | |||||
Eligible electors / turnout | 29,773 | 45.66% | -3.89% | |||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | 7.12% | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. May 28, 2020. pp. 320–323. |
2004 Alberta general election results[17] | Turnout 45.04% | Swing | ||||
Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | Party | Personal | |
Liberal | Weslyn Mather | 5,012 | 48.01% | -0.96% | ||
Progressive Conservative | Naresh Bhardwaj | 2,992 | 28.66% | -15.15% | ||
New Democratic | Lloyd Nelson | 1,565 | 14.99% | 7.77% | ||
Alberta Alliance | Charles Relland | 829 | 7.94% | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 42 | 0.40% | * | ||
Total | 10,440 | |||||
Rejected, spoiled, and declined | 62 | |||||
Eligible electors / Turnout | 23,319 | % | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing −8.06% |
2001 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Centre | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Liberal | Laurie Blakeman | 5,095 | 44.01% | 0.06% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Don J. Weideman | 4,446 | 38.41% | 4.91% | ||||
New Democratic | David Eggen | 1,959 | 16.92% | -0.08% | ||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 76 | 0.66% | – | ||||
Total | 11,576 | – | – | |||||
Rejected, spoiled, and declined | 74 | – | – | |||||
Eligible electors / turnout | 22,648 | 51.44% | -0.66% | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing | -2.43% | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 2001 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |
1997 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Riverview | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
Liberal | Linda Sloan | 6,066 | 42.12 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Gwen Harris | 5,122 | 35.57 | |||||
New Democratic | Donna Fong | 2,261 | 15.70 | |||||
Social Credit | David Prenoslo | 805 | 5.59 | |||||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 61 | 0.42 | |||||
Total valid votes | 14,402 | |||||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 56 | |||||||
Registered electors | 23,040 | |||||||
Turnout | 14,458 | 62.75 | ||||||
Liberal pickup new district. | ||||||||
Source(s)
"1997 General Election". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012. |
1993 Alberta general election results[18] | Turnout 63.02% | Swing | ||||
Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | Party | Personal | |
Liberal | Al Zariwny | 6,542 | 39.41% | 15.30% | ||
New Democratic | Barrie Chivers | 5,121 | 30.85% | -21.91% | ||
Progressive Conservative | Don Grimble | 4,071 | 24.52% | 8.33% | ||
Social Credit | Patrick Ellis | 460 | 2.77% | 0.37% | ||
Greens | Betty Paschen | 253 | 1.52% | -3.02% | ||
Natural Law | Benjamin Toane | 108 | 0.65% | |||
Communist | Naomi Rankin | 47 | 0.28% | * | ||
Total | 16,602 | |||||
Rejected, spoiled and declined | 60 | |||||
Eligible electors / Turnout | 26,440 | % | ||||
Liberal pickup from NDP | Swing 18.61% |
References[edit]
- ^ "Naomi Rankin, Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont | Vote communist!". Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
- ^ a b Maimann, Kevin (April 7, 2019). "Alberta's longest-serving party leader says Communist message is gaining traction". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Black, Matthew (October 15, 2019). "Why do longshot election candidates keep coming back for more?". CTV News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Herring, Jason (October 15, 2019). "For Communist Naomi Rankin, running in her 21st election, marginal gains are good enough". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Naomi Rankin, Communist Party – Alberta". Edmonton Journal. May 6, 1986. p. H6. Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Marck, Paul (March 9, 1997). "Communism's only contender: Party's sole candidate welcomes chance to show socialism as an option". Edmonton Journal. p. A5. Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Dawson, Anne (June 12, 2004). "Preaching revolution to the choir tradition Naomi Rankin". Edmonton Journal. CanWest News Service. p. A4. Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Naomi Rankin, Communist Party of Canada". Edmonton Journal. November 18, 1988. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Murray, Tom (May 23, 2009). "Recession's a cabaret for choir with a cause". Edmonton Journal. p. D1. Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Peace and Reconciliation Program". Issuu.com. June 19, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ "Tim Uppal's request for Edmonton-Mill Woods recount granted by judge". CBC News. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- ^ "Judicial recount results arriving after narrow election wins". CBC News. October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Edmonton Mill Woods (Results as Certified by a Judge)". Elections Canada. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits
- ^ "Edmonton-Mill Woods Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- ^ "Edmonton-Strathcona results 1993 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
External links[edit]
- Communist Party – Alberta candidates in Alberta provincial elections
- 1952 births
- Living people
- Communist Party of Canada candidates in the 1984 Canadian federal election
- Communist Party of Canada candidates in the 1988 Canadian federal election
- Independent candidates in the 1993 Canadian federal election
- Independent candidates in the 1997 Canadian federal election
- Communist Party of Canada candidates in the 2000 Canadian federal election
- Communist Party of Canada candidates in the 2004 Canadian federal election
- Communist Party of Canada candidates in the 2006 Canadian federal election
- Female Canadian political party leaders
- Canadian women in federal politics
- Women in Alberta politics
- 21st-century Canadian women politicians
- 20th-century Canadian women politicians