# Electoral history of Tommy Douglas

This is the electoral history of Tommy Douglas, the seventh premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961.
In addition to his role as premier, Douglas was a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan during the same time period for the constituency of Weyburn. Having earlier served as a CCF member of the House of Commons of Canada for Weyburn from 1935 to 1944, Douglas re-entered federal politics in 1961 when he became the first leader of the newly-created New Democratic Party (NDP). He served as an NDP member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1962 to 1968 and 1969 to 1979, and he stepped down from the role of party leader in 1971.

## Overview

Electoral history of Tommy Douglas — Provincial and federal general elections :
| Year | Type | Party | Party | Votes | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Position |
| Year | Type | Party | Party | Total | % | ±% | Total | ± | Position |
| 1944 | Provincial | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 211,364 | 53.1% | +34.4% | 47 / 52 | +37 | Majority government |
| 1948 | Provincial | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 236,900 | 47.6% | −5.5% | 31 / 52 | −16 | Majority government |
| 1952 | Provincial | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 291,705 | 54.1% | +6.5% | 42 / 53 | +11 | Majority government |
| 1956 | Provincial | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 249,634 | 45.3% | −8.8% | 36 / 53 | −6 | Majority government |
| 1960 | Provincial | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 276,846 | 40.8% | −4.5% | 37 / 54 | +1 | Majority government |
| 1962 | Federal | | New Democratic | 1,044,754 | 13.57% | N/A | 19 / 265 | N/A | Fourth party |
| 1963 | Federal | | New Democratic | 1,044,701 | 13.22% | −0.35% | 17 / 265 | −2 | Fourth party |
| 1965 | Federal | | New Democratic | 1,381,658 | 17.91% | +4.69% | 21 / 265 | +4 | Third party |
| 1968 | Federal | | New Democratic | 1,378,263 | 16.96% | −0.95% | 22 / 264 | +1 | Third party |
Electoral history of Tommy Douglas — Provincial and federal constituency elections :
| Year | Type | Riding | Party | Party | Votes for Douglas | Votes for Douglas | Votes for Douglas | Votes for Douglas | Result | Swing | Swing |
| Year | Type | Riding | Party | Party | Total | % | P. | ±% | Result | Swing | Swing |
| 1934 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Farmer–Labour | 1,343 | 25.84% | 3rd | N/A | Lost | | Gain |
| 1935 | Federal general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 7,280 | 45.00% | 1st | N/A | Elected | | Gain |
| 1940 | Federal general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 8,509 | 52.10% | 1st | +7.10% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1944 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 5,605 | 61.63% | 1st | N/A | Elected | | Gain |
| 1948 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 6,273 | 56.31% | 1st | −5.32% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1952 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 6,020 | 59.86% | 1st | +3.55% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1956 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 4,930 | 48.17% | 1st | −11.69% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1960 | Provincial general | Weyburn | | Co-operative Commonwealth | 5,054 | 48.43% | 1st | +0.26% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1962 | Federal general | Regina City | | New Democratic | 12,736 | 28.94% | 2nd | N/A | Lost | | Hold |
| 1962 | Federal by-election | Burnaby—Coquitlam | | New Democratic | 16,313 | 50.43% | 1st | N/A | Elected | | Hold |
| 1963 | Federal general | Burnaby—Coquitlam | | New Democratic | 19,067 | 46.37% | 1st | −4.06% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1965 | Federal general | Burnaby—Coquitlam | | New Democratic | 22,553 | 52.92% | 1st | +6.55% | Elected | | Hold |
| 1968 | Federal general | Burnaby—Seymour | | New Democratic | 17,753 | 44.89% | 2nd | N/A | Lost | | Gain |
| 1969 | Federal by-election | Nanaimo—Cowichan —The Islands | | New Democratic | 19,730 | 57.03% | 1st | N/A | Elected | | Hold |
| 1972 | Federal general | Nanaimo—Cowichan —The Islands | | New Democratic | 25,483 | 56.93% | 1st | −0.10% | Elected | | Hold |
Electoral history of Tommy Douglas — party leadership elections :
| Year | Party | Votes | % | P. | Result |
| 1942 | Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth | not announced | not announced | 1st | Won |
| 1943 challenge | Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth | not announced | not announced | 1st | Won |
| 1961 | Federal New Democratic Party | 1,391 | 78.5% | 1st | Won |

## Provincial constituency elections

Douglas stood for election to the Legislative Assembly in six general elections, all in the constituency of Weyburn. He was defeated in his first election, in 1934, but was elected in the five general elections from 1944 to 1960.

### 1934 general election

General Election, June 19, 1934: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Liberal | E Hugh Elliott Eaglesham | 2,281 | 43.89% |
| | Conservative | X Robert Sterritt Leslie | 1,544 | 29.71% |
| | Farmer–Labour | Tommy Douglas | 1,343 | 25.84% |
| | Independent | James Logan Coltart | 29 | 0.56% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,197 | 100.00% |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1944 general election

General Election, June 15, 1944: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E Tommy Douglas | 5,605 | 61.63% |
| | Liberal | James Weyburn Adolphe | 3,489 | 38.37% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,094 | 100.00% |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
E Elected.

### 1948 general election

General Election, June 24, 1948: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E X Tommy Douglas | 6,273 | 56.31% |
| | Liberal-Progressive Conservative | Fergus Charles Eaglesham | 4,228 | 37.96% |
| | Social Credit | Isabel Paxman | 638 | 5.73% |
| Total | Total | Total | 11,139 | 100.00% |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1952 general election

General Election, June 11, 1952: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E X Tommy Douglas | 6,020 | 59.86% |
| | Liberal | Donald Morrow | 4,037 | 40.14% |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,057 | 100.00% |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1956 general election

General Election, June 20, 1956: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E X Tommy Douglas | 4,930 | 48.17% |
| | Liberal | Junior Herbert Staveley | 4,234 | 41.37% |
| | Social Credit | Gustav Theodore Froese | 1,070 | 10.46% |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,234 | 100.00% |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1960 general election

General Election, June 8, 1960: Weyburn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | X Tommy Douglas | 5,054 | 48.43% |
| | Liberal | Junior Herbert Staveley | 4,453 | 42.67% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Hugh McGillivray | 621 | 5.95% |
| | Social Credit | William Tabor | 307 | 2.94% |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,435 | 99.99%$^1$ |
| Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division |||||
X Elected. X Incumbent.
$^1$ Rounding error.

## Provincial general elections

Douglas led the CCF in five general elections: 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. He won a majority government each time.

### 1944 general election

The 1944 election was one of the most lopsided in Saskatchewan history. The CCF won 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the Liberals reduced to only five seats.
Saskatchewan general election: June 15, 1944 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas$^1$ | 47 | 211,364 | 53.13% |
| | Liberal | William John Patterson$^2$ | 5 | 140,901 | 35.42% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Rupert Ramsay | 0 | 42,511 | 10.69% |
| | Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 2,067 | 0.52% |
| | Independent | – | 0 | 705 | 0.18% |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Needham | 0 | 249 | 0.06% |
| | Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 5 | 0.00%$^3$ |
| Total | Total | Total | 52 | 397,802 | 100.0% |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1944 ||||||
$^1$ Member of the federal Parliament until shortly before the election was called; Premier after election.
$^2$ Premier when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election. $^3$ Rounds to zero.

### 1948 general election

Douglas led the CCF in the 1948 election, and again won a majority, but with a much reduced seat count. The Liberals made significant comeback under a new leader, Walter Tucker, but remained the Official Opposition.
Saskatchewan general election: June 24, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas$^1$ | 31 | 236,900 | 47.56% |
| | Liberal | Walter Tucker$^2$ | 19 | 152,400 | 30.60% |
| | Independent | – | 1 | 11,088 | 2.23% |
| | Conservative Liberal | – | 1 | 5,251 | 1.05% |
| | Social Credit | – | 0 | 40,268 | 8.09% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Rupert Ramsay | 0 | 37,986 | 7.63% |
| | Liberal-Progressive Conservative | – | 0 | 9,574 | 1.92% |
| | Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 3,299 | 0.66% |
| | Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 1,301 | 0.26% |
| Total | Total | Total | 52 | 498,067 | 100.00% |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1948 ||||||
$^1$ Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
$^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.

### 1952 general election

In his third general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government, with an increased seat count from the 1948 election. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition.
Saskatchewan general election: June 11, 1952 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas$^1$ | 42 | 291,705 | 54.06% |
| | Liberal | Walter Tucker$^2$ | 11 | 211,882 | 39.27% |
| | Social Credit | – | 0 | 21,045 | 3.90% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Alvin Hamilton | 0 | 10,648 | 1.97% |
| | Independent Progressive Conservative | – | 0 | 1,542 | 0.29% |
| | Independent | – | 0 | 1,517 | 0.28% |
| | Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 1,151 | 0.21% |
| | Independent Liberal | – | 0 | 103 | 0.02% |
| Total | Total | Total | 53 | 539,593 | 100.00% |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1952 ||||||
$^1$ Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
$^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.

### 1956 general election

In his fourth general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government, with a reduced seat count from the 1952 election. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition, with a new leader, Alexander Hamilton McDonald.
Saskatchewan general election: June 20, 1956 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas$^1$ | 36 | 249,634 | 45.25% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Hamilton McDonald$^2$ | 14 | 167,427 | 30.34% |
| | Social Credit | – | 3 | 118,491 | 21.48% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Alvin Hamilton | 0 | 10,921 | 1.98% |
| | Independent | – | 0 | 4,714 | 0.85% |
| | Labour Progressive | – | 0 | 536 | 0.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 53 | 551,723 | 100.00% |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1956 ||||||
$^1$ Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
$^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.

### 1960 general election

In his fifth and last general election, Douglas again led the CCF to a majority government. The Liberals remained the Official Opposition under a new leader, Ross Thatcher.
Saskatchewan general election: June 20, 1960 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote | Popular Vote Percentage |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | Tommy Douglas$^1$ | 37 | 276,846 | 40.76% |
| | Liberal | Ross Thatcher$^2$ | 17 | 221,932 | 32.67% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Martin Pederson | 0 | 94,737 | 13.95% |
| | Social Credit | – | 0 | 83,895 | 12.35% |
| | Independent | – | 0 | 1,417 | 0.21% |
| | Communist | – | 0 | 380 | 0.06% |
| Total | Total | Total | 54 | 679,207 | 100.00% |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan — Elections Results — 1960 ||||||
$^1$ Premier when election was called; Premier after election.
$^2$ Leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party without seat in the Assembly when election called; Leader of the Opposition after election.

## Federal constituency elections

Douglas stood for election to the House of Common ten times, in two different provinces (Saskatchewan and British Columbia), and in five different ridings. He was elected eight times and defeated twice.

### 1935 general election

Federal Election, 1935: Weyburn, Saskatchewan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E Tommy Douglas | 7,280 | 45.0% |
| | Liberal | X Edward James Young | 6,979 | 43.14% |
| | Communist | George Beischel | 1,557 | 9.62% |
| | Social Credit | Morton Allison Fletcher | 362 | 2.24% |
| Total | Total | Total | 16,178 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Weyburn |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1940 general election

Federal Election, 1940: Weyburn, Saskatchewan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | E X Tommy Douglas | 8,509 | 52.10% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Niddrie Metheral | 7,554 | 46.25% |
| | United Reform | John Harrison Hilton | 269 | 1.65% |
| Total | Total | Total | 16,332 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Weyburn |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1962 general election

Federal Election, 1962: Regina City, Saskatchewan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | E X Ken More | 22,164 | 50.36% |
| | New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 12,736 | 28.94% |
| | Liberal | Frederick Johnson | 7,529 | 17.11% |
| | Social Credit | Arthur F. Boehme | 1,583 | 3.60% |
| Total | Total | Total | 44,012 | 100.01%$^1$ |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Regina City |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent. $^1$ Rounding error.

### 1962 by-election

Federal By-Election, October 22, 1962: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | New Democratic Party | E Tommy Douglas | 16,313 | 50.43% |
| | Liberal | Warren R. Clark | 8,029 | 24.82% |
| | Social Credit | René J. Gamache | 5,282 | 16.33% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Eric Greenwood | 2,562 | 7.92% |
| | Independent | George D. Burnham | 162 | 0.50% |
| Total | Total | Total | 32,348 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam |||||
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent NDP member, Erhart Regier, to allow Douglas, the party leader, to win a seat in the House of Commons. E Elected.

### 1963 general election

Federal Election, 1963: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | New Democratic Party | E X Tommy Douglas | 19,067 | 46.37% |
| | Liberal | Tom Kent | 14,148 | 34.40% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Lyn Morrow | 3,990 | 9.70% |
| | Social Credit | René J. Gamache | 3,917 | 9.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | 41,122 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1965 general election

Federal Election, 1965: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | New Democratic Party | E X Tommy Douglas | 22,553 | 52.92% |
| | Liberal | Dick Hayes | 12,090 | 28.37% |
| | Social Credit | James Morris Kennedy | 5,308 | 12.46% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mike Allen | 2,662 | 6.25% |
| Total | Total | Total | 42,613 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

### 1968 general election

Federal Election, 1968: Burnaby—Seymour, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | Liberal | E Ray Perrault | 17,891 | 45.23% |
| | New Democratic Party | X Tommy Douglas | 17,753 | 44.89% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Charles MacLean | 3,206 | 8.11% |
| | Social Credit | Ron Price | 702 | 1.77% |
| Total | Total | Total | 39,552 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Seymour |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent (before redistribution).

### 1969 by-election

Federal By-election, February 10, 1969: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | New Democratic Party | E Tommy Douglas | 19,730 | 57.03% |
| | Liberal | Eric W. Winch | 12,897 | 37.28% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Magdalenus Verbrugge | 1,966 | 5.68% |
| Total | Total | Total | 34,593 | 99.99%$^1$ |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands |||||
By-election was triggered by the death of the incumbent NDP member, Colin Cameron, on July 28, 1968. E Elected. $^1$ Rounding error.

### 1972 general election

Federal Election, 1972: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands, British Columbia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Popular Vote | % |
| | New Democratic Party | E X Tommy Douglas | 25,483 | 56.93% |
| | Progressive Conservative | George MacPherson | 10,179 | 22.74% |
| | Liberal | Bill Matthews | 7,107 | 15.88% |
| | Social Credit | Stockwell Day Sr. | 1,868 | 4.17% |
| | Independent | Ken Hasanen | 125 | 0.28% |
| Total | Total | Total | 44,762 | 100.00% |
| Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands |||||
E Elected. X Incumbent.

## Federal general elections

In 1961, Douglas was elected the first leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). He led the NDP in four federal general elections: 1962, 1963, 1965 and 1968. The NDP under his leadership was a smaller party in the House of Commons.

### 1962 general election

In his first general election as leader of the NDP, Douglas more than doubled the seats won by the NDP, winning nineteen seats, compared to the eight seats won by the CCF in the 1958 election. Douglas was defeated in his own bid for a seat in Regina City, but won a by-election shortly afterwards in Burnaby—Coquitlam.
Canadian Federal Election, 1962 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker$^1$ | 116 | 37.2% |
| | Liberal | Lester B. Pearson$^2$ | 99 | 37.0% |
| | Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 30 | 11.6% |
| | New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 19 | 13.6% |
| | Liberal–Labour | – | 1 | 0.2% |
| Total | Total | Total | 265 | 99.6%$^3$ |
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1962 General Election |||||
$^1$ Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election. $^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. $^3$ Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

### 1963 general election

Less than a year after the 1962 election, Diefenbaker's minority government fell on a motion of non-confidence, triggering the dissolution of Parliament and a general election. Douglas and the NDP held steady in their seat count.
Canadian Federal Election, 1963 :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote |
| | Liberal | Lester B. Pearson$^1$ | 128 | 41.5% |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker$^2$ | 95 | 32.8% |
| | Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 24 | 11.9% |
| | New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 17 | 13.2% |
| | Liberal–Labour | – | 1 | 0.2% |
| Total | Total | Total | 265 | 99.6%$^3$ |
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1963 General Election |||||
$^1$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election. $^2$ Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. $^3$ Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

### 1965 general election

After two years of minority government, Pearson called an election. The result was another hung parliament. The NDP came third in the seat count.
Canadian Federal Election, 1965 — Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote |
| | Liberal | Lester B. Pearson$^1$ | 131 | 40.2% |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Diefenbaker$^2$ | 97 | 32.4% |
| | New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 21 | 17.9% |
| | Ralliement créditiste | Réal Caouette | 9 | 4.7% |
| | Social Credit | Robert N. Thompson | 5 | 3.7% |
| | Independent | – | 1 | 0.7% |
| | Independent PC | – | 1 | 0.2% |
| Total | Total | Total | 265 | 99.8%$^3$ |
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1965 General Election |||||
$^1$ Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election. $^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. $^3$ Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

### 1968 general election

In his last general election as leader, the NDP held steady in seats, but Douglas was himself defeated in his own seat. He won a by-election shortly afterward in the riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands and re-entered Parliament.
Canadian Federal Election, 1968 — Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote :
| Party | Party | Leaders | Seats Won | Popular Vote |
| | Liberal | Pierre Trudeau$^1$ | 154 | 45.4% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert L. Stanfield$^2$ | 72 | 31.4% |
| | New Democratic Party | Tommy Douglas | 22 | 17.0% |
| | Ralliement créditiste | Réal Caouette | 14 | 4.4% |
| | Independent | – | 1 | 0.5% |
| | Liberal-Labour | – | 1 | 0.1% |
| Total | Total | Total | 264 | 98.8%$^3$ |
| Sources: Library of Parliament – 1968 General Election |||||
$^1$ Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election. $^2$ Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. $^3$ Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

## Party leadership conventions
### 1942 Saskatchewan CCF leadership convention

In 1942, Douglas challenged George Hara Williams, the leader of the Saskatchewan Section of the CCF for the provincial leadership. He defeated Williams and became provincial leader.

### 1943 Saskatchewan CCF leadership challenge

In 1943, Douglas in turn was challenged for the leadership of the Saskatchewan CCF, by John Brockelbank. Douglas defeated the challenge.

### 1961 Federal NDP leadership

In 1961, Douglas contested the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party, the successor to the CCF. He defeated Hazen Argue by a vote of 1,391 to 380, to become the first leader of the party.
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | Votes |
| | Tommy Douglas | 1,391 | 78.5% |
| | Hazen Argue | 380 | 12.5% |
| Total | Total | 43,652 | 100.0% |