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Tommy Douglas

Seventh Premier of Saskatchewan

1944 to 1961

This article is the Electoral history of Tommy Douglas, the seventh Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He was the longest-serving Premier of Saskatchewan, from 1944 to 1961.

Douglas led the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in five provincial elections, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960, winning majority governments each time. He was the first of two CCF premiers.

He stood for election to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan six times. He was defeated in his first try, in 1934, but then was elected five times from 1944 to 1960.

In addition to his time in provincial politics, he was a Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Canada from 1935 to 1944, and again from 1962 to 1968, and then from 1969 to 1979.

In 1961, Douglas was elected leader of the newly formed federal New Democratic Party, successor to the CCF. He resigned as Premier to re-enter federal politics, and was succeeded as Premier and leader of the CCF by Woodrow Lloyd.

Douglas led the federal NDP in four federal elections, in 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1968. The NDP remained a third party after each election.

Douglas stood for election to the House of Commons ten times in eight general elections and in two by-elections. He was elected eight times and defeated twice. After retiring from the NDP leadership in 1971, he remained in the Commons until 1979, when he retired from politics, after over forty years of electoral service, both federally and provincially.

Summary

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Tommy Douglas as leader of the federal NDP, 1971

Douglas was the longest serving Premier of Saskatchewan, with one consecutive term, from July 10, 1944 to November 7, 1961.[1] He was in office for a total of 17 years, 120 days. He led the CCF in five provincial elections, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960, winning majority governments each time. He is one of only four Saskatchewan premiers to win three or more majority governments, the others being Walter Scott, Allan Blakeney, and Brad Wall.

Prior to entering Saskatchewan provincial politics, Douglas had been a Member of Parliament in the federal Parliament, as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). He was elected twice, in 1935 and 1940, for the federal riding of Weyburn.[2]

In 1942, Douglas contested the leadership of the Saskatchewan Section of the CCF, defeating the incumbent leader, George Hara Williams. He remained a Member of Parliament until May 31, 1944, when he resigned his seat in the House of Commons to enter provincial politics.[3] In the provincial general election of 1944, he led the CCF to a major electoral victory, defeating the Liberal government of Premier Patterson. The CCF won forty-seven of the fifty-two seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the Liberals reduced to only five seats.[4] As Premier, he led the first socialist government in Canada. He led the CCF in five provincial general elections, winning a majority government each time: 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for over seventeen years.

In 1961, Douglas resigned as Premier and was suceeded as Premier and CCF leader by Woodrow Lloyd. Douglas returned to federal politics, becoming the first leader of the newly formed New Democratic Party (NDP), the successor to the CCF. He was leader of the NDP from 1961 to 1971, contesting four general elections. The NDP retained third party status after each general election. Douglas was personally defeated in two elections, in 1962 and 1968, but each time was later re-elected via by-elections. After resigning from the leadership in 1971, he remained in Parliament until 1979. In total, he stood for election in ten federal constituency elections, winning eight and being defeated in two. He was a Member of Parliament for 24 years, 6 months, 30 days.

Douglas retired from politics in 1979, at the age of 74, after over forty years of electoral service both provincially and federally.

Saskatchewan general elections, 1944 to 1960

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

1944 General election

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote
Percentage
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Tommy Douglas1 47 211,364 53.13%
Liberal William John Patterson2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote
Percentage
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Tommy Douglas1 31 236,900 47.56%
Liberal Walter Tucker2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote
Percentage
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Tommy Douglas1 42 291,705 54.06%
Liberal Walter Tucker2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote
Percentage
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Tommy Douglas1 36 249,634 45.25%
Liberal Alexander Hamilton McDonald2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote Popular Vote
Percentage
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Tommy Douglas1 37 276,846 40.76%
Liberal Ross Thatcher2 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 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.

Saskatchewan constituency elections

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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.[5]

1934 General election: Weyburn

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General Election, June 19, 1934: Weyburn
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes 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 5,197 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1944 General election: Weyburn

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

Yes Elected.

1948 General election: Weyburn

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General Election, June 24, 1948: Weyburn
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Yes 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 11,139 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1952 General election: Weyburn

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General Election, June 11, 1952: Weyburn
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Yes X Tommy Douglas 6,020 59.86%
Liberal Donald Morrow 4,037 40.14%
Total 10,057 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1956 General election: Weyburn

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General Election, June 20, 1956: Weyburn
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Yes 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 10,234 100.00%
Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1960 General election: Weyburn

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General Election, June 8, 1960: Weyburn
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Yes 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 10,435 99.99%1
Source: Saskatchewan Archives — Election Results by Electoral Division[5]

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

Federal general elections, 1962 to 1968

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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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote
  Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker1 116 37.2%
Liberal Lester B. Pearson2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote
Liberal Lester B. Pearson1 128 41.5%
  Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote
Liberal Lester B. Pearson1 131 40.2%
  Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker2 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 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

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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 Leaders Seats Won Popular Vote
Liberal Pierre Trudeau1 154 45.4%
  Progressive Conservative Robert L. Stanfield2 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 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.

Federal constituency elections, 1935 to 1940, 1962 to 1974

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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.[3]

1935 General election: Weyburn

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Federal Election, 1935: Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Yes 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 16,178 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Weyburn

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1940 General election: Weyburn

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

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1962 General election: Regina City

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Federal Election, 1962: Regina City, Saskatchewan
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Progressive Conservative Yes 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 44,012 100.01%1
Source: Library of Parliament – Regina City

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1962 By-election: Burnaby—Coquitlam

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Federal By-Election, October 22, 1962: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes 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 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.
Yes Elected.

1963 General Election: Burnaby—Coquitlam

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Federal Election, 1963: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes 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 41,122 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1965 General Election: Burnaby—Coquitlam

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Federal Election, 1965: Burnaby—Coquitlam, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes 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 42,613 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Coquitlam

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1968 General Election: Burnaby—Seymour

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Federal Election, 1968: Burnaby—Seymour, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
Liberal Yes 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 39,552 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Burnaby—Seymour

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent (before redistribution).

1969 By-election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands

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Federal By-election, February 10, 1969: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes Tommy Douglas 19,730 57.03%
Liberal Eric W. Winch 12,897 37.28%
Progressive Conservative Magdalenus Verbrugge 1,966 5.68%
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.
Yes Elected.
1 Rounding error.

1972 General Election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands

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Federal Election, 1972: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes 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 44,762 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1974 General Election: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands

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Federal Election, 1974: Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands, British Columbia
Party Candidate Popular Vote %
  New Democratic Party Yes X Tommy Douglas 20,444 40.91%
Progressive Conservative Don L. Taylor 18,207 36.44%
Liberal Raymond Patrick Kane 11,028 22.07%
Communist Ernie Knott 288 0.58%
Total 49,967 100.00%
Source: Library of Parliament – Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent

Party leadership conventions

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1942 Saskatchewan CCF leadership convention

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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

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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

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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.

References

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