The former mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi, will lead the Alberta New Democratic Party after receiving 86 percent of the votes in the first ballot.

Nenshi received 62,746 votes, defeating three current NDP members - Kathleen Ganley, Sarah Hoffman, and Judy Kalahoo Stonehouse - to replace the outgoing leader Rachel Notley.

Nenshi said, "I feel humbled and truly honored to be chosen to lead the NDP in Alberta into its next era."

He added that the excitement and optimism he felt throughout this leadership race prove that Alberta residents want a government they can trust and believe in."

72,930 NDP members voted in the leadership race, the results of which were announced to a crowd of supporters in downtown Calgary yesterday afternoon.

Nenshi said amid applause, "The NDP in Alberta today is the largest regional political party in Canada."

The leadership race to succeed Notley showed support for the Alberta New Democrats' ballooning, with numbers rising from just over 16,000 members in December to nearly 86,000 as of the end of April.

Notley, who congratulated Nenshi on stage yesterday, announced that she would step down as NDP leader in January, following months of her party losing to the United Conservative Party led by Danielle Smith.

The NDP won 38 seats across the province, making the party the largest opposition in Alberta's history.

Before the deadline yesterday, 85.6 percent of eligible NDP members cast their votes. Ganley received 5,899 votes, Hoffman received 3,063 votes, and Kalahoo Stonehouse received 1,222 votes.

Nenshi used part of his first speech as NDP leader to issue a direct target towards Smith and her united party.

Nenshi said, "I think (Smith) misspoke. I believe when she said she is the most freedom-loving politician in Canada, she meant she is the most power-loving politician."