Nenshi confirms run for Edmonton-Strathcona seat [Video]

New Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has found a way into the Alberta legislature – and one that’s practically guaranteed, experts say – to face off against Premier Danielle Smith. 

Nenshi confirmed on Friday he was seeking his party’s nomination to run as a candidate in the Edmonton-Strathcona constituency, vacated by former premier and Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley on Dec. 30.

“This nomination means that I’ll be in the legislature to go head-to-head with Danielle Smith soon,” Nenshi said in a statement posted to social media.

“I believe Alberta New Democrats can be a thoughtful government-in-waiting with real solutions for Alberta families.”

Nenshi does not have a seat in the legislature, having declined to run in the Lethbridge-West by-election in mid-December, which was won by NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro.

That move made attempting to fill Notley’s seat an obvious one, agree Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt and …