NOVA SCOTIA NDP ELECTION HISTORY

Under Darrell Dexter's centre-left-centre ethos, the New Democratic Party of Nova Scotia aimed for the moon and landed thereon with a soft impact. Reeeeesult.

Before Premier-designate Dexter came along, the NDP treated itself well with Robert Chisolm. Chiz, now a member of Dexter's transition team, was a combative character. In the '98 election, his first election as leader, Chiz tied the Liberals for the election victory. Unfortunately for the NDP, the Liberals consorted with the Progressive Conservatives to govern. In 1999, Chisolm and the Liberal Premier, Russell MacLellan, fared miserably. 2003 was Darrell Dexter's first election, and the seat count climbed upward. Then again in 2006. And now, Dexter's Premier with 31 out of 52 seats.

Ah, but before Chiz there was the affable Alexa McDonough. Though famous for her ability to collect support in her own ridings as an MLA, then as an MP and federal NDP leader, Alexa didn't manage much with her provincial party. In province-wide elections dating back to 1981, McDonough averaged just 2.25 seats per election year. Jeremy Akerman sometimes fared better; sometimes not so much. James Aitchison is another NDP name to drop. In the '63 and '67 elections, his NDP won zero seat(s). Previous to that point, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation used green instead of orange. The CCF was also not so much centre-left-centre as the NDP we know today in Nova Scotia. Preceding the CCF, the United Farmers and Labour parties worked together and won 11 seats in 1920. But until 1941, the CCF/Labour/UF only managed a victory in one riding one time in four elections.