1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election

1993 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election

June 13, 1993
 
JE
Candidate Kim Campbell Jean Charest Jim Edwards
Second ballot delegate count 1,817
(52.7%)
1,630
(47.3%)
Withdrew
First ballot delegate count 1,664
(48.0%)
1,369
(39.5%)
307
(8.8%)

Leader before election

Brian Mulroney

Elected Leader

Kim Campbell

1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election
DateJune 13, 1993
ConventionOttawa Civic Centre,
Ottawa, Ontario
Resigning leaderBrian Mulroney
Won byKim Campbell
Ballots2
Candidates5
Entrance feeC$
Spending limitNone

The 1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on June 13, 1993 to choose a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and hense, Prime Minister of Canada, with Kim Campbell winning the vote in the second ballot, and hence becoming the first female Prime Minister on June 25, 1993.

Initially, Campbell's popularity caused very few prominent Progressive Conservatives to enter the race, with Michael Wilson, Perrin Beatty, Barbara McDougall, and Joe Clark not making expected runs. Jean Charest had to be convinced to run by Brian Mulroney, but once in the race, he ran an energetic campaign directed by established party organizers loyal to Mulroney, who would later lead the 1993 federal election campaign team. That turned the race from a coronation into a divisive grass roots battle for delegates.