Poilievre to Seek New Constituency While Kurek Returns to Alberta Riding
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be seeking election in a different riding during the next federal election, while former MP Damien Kurek has been confirmed to return as the Conservative candidate in Battle River-Crowfoot, the Alberta riding he previously represented. This development follows a strategic move that saw Kurek step aside last year to allow Poilievre to secure a parliamentary seat through a byelection.
Strategic Resignation Paves Way for Poilievre's Return to Parliament
Damien Kurek, who had represented Battle River-Crowfoot since 2019, made the significant decision to resign his seat after winning the safe Conservative riding with more than 80 percent of the vote in April 2025. This resignation created an opportunity for Pierre Poilievre, who had lost his Ottawa-area riding to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy in the previous election, to run in a byelection for the east-central Alberta constituency.
The strategic move proved successful when Poilievre won the August 2025 byelection, returning the Conservative leader to Parliament. Throughout this process, both politicians maintained that Kurek would seek to represent the riding again in the next general election.
Conservative Party Confirms Kurek's Return as Candidate
The Conservative Party's national council passed a motion in December 2025 that officially designates Damien Kurek as the party's candidate for Battle River-Crowfoot in the upcoming federal election. This procedural move allows the former MP to bypass the standard nomination process and return directly as the Conservative standard-bearer for the constituency.
Conservative Party of Canada spokeswoman Sarah Fischer confirmed the arrangement in an email statement, noting that "both Damien Kurek and Pierre Poilievre have publicly confirmed that Mr. Kurek will seek the CPC nomination for Battle River-Crowfoot in the next general election."
Kurek's Commitment to the Riding and Conservative Leadership
In his own statement, Kurek emphasized his ongoing connection to the Battle River-Crowfoot constituency, which includes communities such as Camrose, Drumheller, Hanna, Stettler, and Wainwright. "Since the day my wife Danielle and I offered to resign my seat so the leader could run in a byelection, both Pierre and I have publicly shared with the folks here that I will seek the nomination in Battle River-Crowfoot," Kurek stated.
The former MP expressed strong support for Poilievre's leadership, adding, "I look forward to running with Pierre Poilievre as our leader, as he is the prime minister Canada needs." Since leaving federal politics temporarily, Kurek has taken a position with Upstream Strategy Group, a government-relations and public-affairs firm with offices in Toronto and Regina.
Poilievre's Future Riding Remains Unspecified
While Kurek's political future has been clarified, the location where Pierre Poilievre will seek election in the next federal campaign remains uncertain. Ahead of the August 2025 byelection, Poilievre told media that he would run in a different riding during the next general election and that Kurek would remain active in keeping the Conservative leader informed about developments in Battle River-Crowfoot.
The Conservative Party has not disclosed where Poilievre intends to run next, leaving this as an open question as election planning continues. This uncertainty comes as Poilievre faces a leadership review during the Conservative Party's national convention in Calgary from January 29 to 31, 2026, following last year's election loss to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals and recent defections of two Conservative MPs to the governing party.
Political Implications and Strategic Considerations
The arrangement between Poilievre and Kurek represents a carefully orchestrated political strategy that allowed the Conservative leader to return to Parliament while maintaining representation for the Battle River-Crowfoot constituency. This approach demonstrates the party's focus on both leadership stability and local representation as they prepare for the next federal election.
The confirmation of Kurek's return to Battle River-Crowfoot provides certainty for Conservative supporters in the riding, while the question of where Poilievre will seek election next adds an element of strategic anticipation to the Conservative Party's election planning. As both politicians prepare for their respective campaigns, their coordinated approach reflects the party's efforts to balance national leadership needs with strong local representation across Canada.
