Tasha Kheiriddin, a co-chair of Jean Charest’s leadership campaign, told The Hill Times that the campaign still had a path to victory.
While Poilievre’s campaign said he has sold more than 300,000 new memberships—nearly half of the 678,708 members eligible to vote in the leadership election—having the most individual votes doesn’t necessarily guarantee his victory.
According to the Conservative Party’s leadership election rules, each electoral district association with at least 100 members is worth 100 points. According to party headquarters, there’s no riding association in the country that has fewer than 100 members. So, for the 338 ridings across the country, the total points are 33,800 and the winner needs 16,901 or 50 per cent plus one.
“I’m confident Jean Charest is the man to lead the party and that we have the votes and the points to do that,” Kheiriddin predicted. “We will see on election night confirmation of that or not, but I believe we can do it.”