# 2023 Northwest Territories general election

The 2023 Northwest Territories general election was held on November 14, 2023. Nineteen members were elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is run on a consensus government system, in which all MLAs sit as independents and are not organized into political parties.
Due to the Northwest Territories wildfire evacuations in August, territorial chief election officer, Stephen Dunbar, proposed delaying the election one month to November, due to the possibility that some residents of the territory may still be displaced from their homes during the currently scheduled campaign period. Some cabinet ministers expressed support for his proposal, with the Assembly meeting on August 28 to debate rescheduling the election. The election was officially delayed from the original October 3 date to November 14, six weeks later.
On September 28, incumbent Premier Caroline Cochrane announced she would not seek re-election.

## Results

The Legislative Assembly is run on a consensus government system, in which all MLAs sit as independents and are not organized into political parties. Note, accordingly, that colours in the following charts are used solely to indicate candidate status, not political party affiliations.

### Statistics

Reelection statistics :
| | Seats | Did not run | Defeated | Reelected |
| Cabinet | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Independent | 11 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| All MLAs | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 |

### Candidates

vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Deh Cho :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Sheryl Yakeleya | 229 | 39.48 |
| | Steven Vandell | 178 | 30.69 |
| | Ronald Bonnetrouge (I) | 146 | 25.17 |
| | Richard C. Lafferty | 27 | 4.66 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 580 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Frame Lake :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Julian Morse | 209 | 32.91 |
| | Spencer Tracy | 182 | 28.66 |
| | Stuart Wray | 169 | 26.61 |
| | John Stanley | 49 | 7.72 |
| | Deanna Cornfield | 26 | 4.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 635 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Great Slave :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Kate Reid | 263 | 34.79 |
| | Stacie Arden Smith | 237 | 31.35 |
| | Katrina Nokleby (I) | 197 | 26.06 |
| | James Lawrence | 59 | 7.80 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 756 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Hay River North :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | R. J. Simpson (I.C.) | 398 | 65.57 |
| | Michael Wallington | 109 | 17.96 |
| | Hans Wiedemann | 85 | 14.00 |
| | Greg McMeekin | 15 | 2.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 607 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Hay River South :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Vince McKay | 282 | 38.63 |
| | Wally Schumann | 238 | 32.60 |
| | Pierre Simpson (I) | 210 | 28.77 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 730 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Inuvik Boot Lake :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Denny Rodgers | 210 | 42.51 |
| | Diane Archie (I.C.) | 152 | 30.77 |
| | Sallie Ross | 132 | 26.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 494 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Inuvik Twin Lakes :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lesa Semmler (I) | 322 | 71.56 |
| | Lenora McLeod | 128 | 28.44 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 450 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Kam Lake :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Caitlin Cleveland (I) | Acclaimed |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Mackenzie Delta :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | George Nerysoo | 233 | 37.04 |
| | Frederick Blake Jr. (I.S.) | 220 | 34.98 |
| | Richard Ross Jr. | 176 | 27.98 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 629 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Monfwi :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Jane Weyallon Armstrong (I) | Acclaimed |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Nahendeh :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Shane Thompson (I.C.) | 326 | 34.50 |
| | Mavis Cli-Michaud | 185 | 19.58 |
| | Sharon Allen | 149 | 15.77 |
| | Hillary Deneron | 149 | 15.77 |
| | Les Wright | 115 | 12.17 |
| | Josh P.T. Campbell | 21 | 2.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 945 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Nunakput :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lucy Kuptana | 340 | 68.14 |
| | Vince Teddy | 159 | 31.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 499 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Range Lake :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Kieron Testart | 326 | 55.25 |
| | Aaron Reid | 155 | 26.27 |
| | Nicole Sok | 109 | 18.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 590 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Sahtu :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Daniel McNeely | 372 | 46.21 |
| | Paulie Chinna (I.C.) | 226 | 28.07 |
| | Delphine (Dolly) Pierrot | 207 | 25.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 805 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Thebacha :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Jay MacDonald | 483 | 48.59 |
| | Frieda Martselos (I) | 416 | 41.85 |
| | Connie Benwell | 95 | 9.56 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 994 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Richard Edjericon (I) | 221 | 87.01 |
| | Nadine Delorme | 33 | 12.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 254 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Yellowknife Centre :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Robert Hawkins | 333 | 41.57 |
| | Matt Spence | 243 | 30.34 |
| | Ambe Chenemu | 225 | 28.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 801 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Yellowknife North :
| | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Shauna Morgan | 734 | 64.50 |
| | Bruce Valpy | 350 | 30.76 |
| | Jon Howe | 54 | 4.75 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1138 |
vte2023 Northwest Territories general election: Yellowknife South :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Caroline Wawzonek (I.C.) | Acclaimed |

## Analysis

In the election, 12 out of the 19 seats in the legislature elected new MLAs. In addition, the number of women elected to the legislature decreased, from nine in 2019 to eight.
Given that the territory operates on a consensus government system, MLAs elected on November 14 chose the new premier in the first session of the 20th Assembly on December 7, with Hay River North MLA R. J. Simpson being elected premier. Candidates included Simpson, Kieron Testart, Shane Thompson, and Caroline Wawzonek. Thompson was elected speaker the same day.
The other members elected by MLAs to cabinet were, for the north, Lucy Kuptana and Lesa Semmler; for Yellowknife, Caitlin Cleveland and Caroline Wawzonek; and for the south, Vince McKay and Jay MacDonald.