The 2021 Nova Scotia general election was held on August 17, 2021, to elect members to the 64th General Assembly of Nova Scotia.
In a major upset, Tim Houston led the Progressive Conservatives to power for the first time since 2006, and with a majority government for the first time since 1999. With a popular vote share of 38.44%, the PCs won the smallest winning vote share of any majority government in Nova Scotian electoral history, and won nearly twice the number of seats as the Liberals, despite their overall vote share differing by less than 2%.
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin’s victory in Cumberland North marked the first occasion since 1988 that an independent candidate won election to the House of Assembly. A record number of four Black Nova Scotians were elected MLAs; prior to this election, only five Black MLAs had ever been elected in Nova Scotia.
Redistribution of ridings
In April 2019, the Electoral Boundaries Commission released its report which recommended changing the number of electoral districts from 51 to 55, including reinstating the four former districts of Argyle, Clare, Preston and Richmond. In October 2019, the Nova Scotia Legislature passed implementing legislation, providing for the following changes to take effect at the forthcoming election.
Timeline
- May 30, 2017 – The Liberal Party, led by Stephen McNeil, wins the 2017 Nova Scotia general election, the Progressive Conservative Association stay as the official opposition, and the New Democratic Party remain at third party status.
- January 24, 2018 - Jamie Baillie resigns as leader of the Progressive Conservative Association, and MLA Karla MacFarlane becomes interim leader.
- October 27, 2018 - Tim Houston is elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Association.
- August 6, 2020 - Premier Stephen McNeil announces he will resign as leader of the Liberal Party and as Premier of Nova Scotia in early 2021.
- February 6, 2021 - Iain Rankin is elected as leader of the Liberal Party.
- February 23, 2021 - Iain Rankin is officially sworn in as the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia.
- July 17, 2021 - Premier Iain Rankin calls a general election for August 17, 2021.
Incumbents not running for reelection
The following MLAs announced that they would not run in the 2021 general election:
Independent
- Hugh MacKay (Chester-St. Margaret's)
Liberal Party
- Karen Casey (Colchester North)
- Keith Colwell (Preston-Dartmouth)
- Lena Diab (Halifax Armdale)
- Mark Furey (Lunenburg West)
- Leo Glavine (Kings West)
- Bill Horne (Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank)
- Geoff MacLellan (Glace Bay)
- Chuck Porter (Hants West)
- Gordon Wilson (Clare-Digby)
New Democratic Party
- Lisa Roberts (Halifax Needham)
Candidates by constituency
Legend
- bold denotes party leader
- † denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest