# River Heights (electoral district)

River Heights is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1957, and formally came into existence in the 1958 provincial election. The riding is located in the south-central region of the City of Winnipeg.
River Heights is bordered to the east by Fort Rouge (formerly Lord Roberts), to the southeast by Fort Garry, to the south by Fort Whyte, to the north by Wolseley (across the Assiniboine River), and to the west by Tuxedo.
From 1958 to 1986, River Heights was represented by members of the Progressive Conservative Party. Since that time, however, it has generally been represented by leaders of the provincial Liberal Party. Sharon Carstairs represented the riding from 1986 until her appointment to the Senate of Canada in 1994, and Jon Gerrard represented the riding from 1999 until 2023 when he lost the seat to NDP candidate Mike Moroz. Moroz is the first New Democrat ever to represent the constituency.
The Liberal Party has many prominent backers in this riding, including members of the Asper family (see Izzy Asper).

## Statistical overview

The riding's population in 1996 was 19,950. The riding's character is middle- and upper-middle class. In 1999, the average family income was $77,701, and the unemployment rate was 5.90%. River Heights includes many of Winnipeg's oldest and stateliest homes: the average value of dwelling house in the riding in 1999 was $117,937.
River Heights has a significant Jewish population, at 9% of the total. The highest percentage of people in Manitoba at the riding level have university degrees, at 38.5%. Voter turnout also tends to be extremely high in this riding; in its first four decades, turnout usually exceeded 80% of the eligible population.
The service sector accounts for 15% of industry in River Heights, with educational services following at 14%.

## List of provincial representatives

| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| 25th | 1958–1959 | W.B. Scarth | Progressive Conservative |
| 26th | 1959–1962 | W.B. Scarth | Progressive Conservative |
| 27th | 1962–1966 | Maitland Steinkopf | Progressive Conservative |
| 28th | 1966–1969 | Sidney Spivak | Progressive Conservative |
| 29th | 1969–1973 | Sidney Spivak | Progressive Conservative |
| 30th | 1973–1977 | Sidney Spivak | Progressive Conservative |
| 31st | 1977–1979 | Sidney Spivak | Progressive Conservative |
| 31st | 1979–1981 | Gary Filmon | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1981–1986 | Warren Steen | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1986–1988 | Sharon Carstairs | Liberal |
| 34th | 1988–1990 | Sharon Carstairs | Liberal |
| 35th | 1990–1994 | Sharon Carstairs | Liberal |
| Riding was vacant from 1994–1995 |||||
| 36th | 1995–1999 | Mike Radcliffe | Progressive Conservative |
| 37th | 1999–2003 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 38th | 2003–2007 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 39th | 2007–2011 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 40th | 2011–2016 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 41st | 2016–2019 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 42nd | 2019–2023 | Jon Gerrard | Liberal |
| 43rd | 2023–present | Mike Moroz | New Democratic |

## Electoral results

vte2023 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Mike Moroz | 5,047 | 44.21 | +29.63 | $34,794.42 |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 4,404 | 38.58 | -15.22 | $15,378.75 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Tim Burt | 1,807 | 15.83 | -8.87 | $15,741.18 |
| | Green | Nathan Zahn | 158 | 1.38 | -5.54 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 11,416 | 99.63 | – | $66,065.00 |
| Total rejected and declined ballots | Total rejected and declined ballots | Total rejected and declined ballots | 42 | 0.37 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,458 | 67.59 | +2.12 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 16,951 |
| | New Democratic gain from Liberal | New Democratic gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +22.42 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
vte2019 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 5,884 | 53.79 | +1.89 | $20,360.48 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Susan Boulter | 2,702 | 24.70 | -9.82 | $15,457.28 |
| | New Democratic | Jonathan Niemczak | 1,595 | 14.58 | +8.72 | $2,138.19 |
| | Green | Nathan Zahn | 757 | 6.92 | -0.73 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,938 | 99.69 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 34 | 0.31 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,972 | 65.48 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 16,757 |
vte2016 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 5,230 | 51.90 | +5.99 | $24,782.14 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Tracey Maconachie | 3,485 | 34.58 | +1.82 | $35,477.22 |
| | Green | Michael Cardillo | 771 | 7.65 | +4.08 | $1,180.63 |
| | New Democratic | Shafagh Daneshfar | 591 | 5.86 | -11.90 | $671.90 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 10,077 | 100.00 | - | $44,532.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 79 | – | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,156 | 72.70 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 13,969 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
vte2011 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 4,742 | 45.91 | −5.15 | $35,683.03 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Marty Morantz | 3,384 | 32.76 | +7.65 | $37,469.17 |
| | New Democratic | Dan Manning | 1,835 | 17.76 | −2.01 | $10,119.45 |
| | Green | Elizabeth May Cameron | 370 | 3.57 | −0.48 | $498.55 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,358 |
| Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | 29 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,387 | 72.51 | +3.17 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 14,325 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
vte2007 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 4,760 | 51.06 | +2.36 | $24,934.03 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ashley Burner | 2,341 | 25.11 | −3.84 | $30,166.89 |
| | New Democratic | Fiona Shiells | 1,843 | 19.77 | +0.03 | $3,859.68 |
| | Green | Christine Bennet-Clark | 378 | 4.05 | +1.79 | $861.98 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,322 | 100.00 |
| Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | 22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,344 | 69.34 | +1.91 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 13,475 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
vte2003 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 4,500 | 48.70 | +3.70 | $29,690.35 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mike Radcliffe | 2,675 | 28.95 | −12.00 | $24,419.68 |
| | New Democratic | Kristin Bingeman | 1,824 | 19.74 | +6.76 | $4,053.34 |
| | Green | Linda Goossen | 209 | 2.26 | +1.46 | $49.68 |
| | Libertarian | Clancy Smith | 32 | 0.35 | +0.08 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,240 | 100.00 |
| Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | 31 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,271 | 67.43 | −6.24 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 13,749 |
vte1999 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Jon Gerrard | 5,173 | 45.00 | +5.80 | $30,877.93 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mike Radcliffe | 4,708 | 40.95 | -7.03 | $28,010.25 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Reimer | 1,492 | 12.98 | +1.03 | $3,101.00 |
| | Green | Chris Billows | 92 | 0.80 | n/a | $55.40 |
| | Libertarian | Clancy Smith | 31 | 0.27 | -0.59 | $443.82 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,496 | 100.00 |
| Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | Rejected and declined votes | 41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,537 | 83.67 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 13,788 |
1990 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sharon Carstairs | 5,467 | 47.97 | -11.72 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Shaun McCaffrey | 4,601 | 40.37 | +9.96 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Sim | 1,190 | 10.44 | +1.1 |
| | Libertarian | Clancy Smith | 138 | 1.21 | +0.65 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,426 | 100.00 | - |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 30 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,396 | 81.46 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 14,026 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
1988 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sharon Carstairs | 6,620 | 59.69 | +14.71 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bob Vandewater | 3,373 | 30.41 | -0.11 |
| | New Democratic | Harry Daniels | 1,036 | 9.34 | -15.16 |
| | Libertarian | Jim Weidman | 62 | 0.56 | n/a |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,108 | 100.00 | - |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 17 | – | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,091 | 87.07 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 12,757 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||
vte1986 Manitoba general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sharon Carstairs | 4,620 | 44.98 | +21.57 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Warren Steen | 3,135 | 30.52 | -14.94 |
| | New Democratic | Murray Smith | 2,516 | 24.50 | -5.31 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,287 | 80.66 | |
| | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +18.26 |
| Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||