Former NDP Leader Alison Coffin is challenging electoral reform and is running independently in two separate districts this election.
It has happened before – but you have to go back 156 years to find another example in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador.
Alison Coffin is running as an Independent candidate in Harbour Grace-Port de Grave and in Carbonear-Trinity-Conception.
According to Elections NL, there is nothing in the Elections Act to prevent a candidate from running in more than one district – and it’s happened before.
Elections NL (VOCM News)
Back in 1869, Henry Renouf ran for the Anti-Confederates in both St. John’s West and Placentia-St. Mary’s in what was known as the Confederation Election. That year saw candidates run under Confederate or Anti-Confederate banners.
The Anti-Confederate party won by a landslide, and Renouf was elected to seats in both Placentia-St. Mary’s and St. John’s West.
Renouf resigned from his St. John’s West seat, and a by-election was held in March of 1870.
Coffin says she’s running in both districts because she can.
