Electoral history of Justin Trudeau

This article is the Electoral history of Justin Trudeau, the twenty-third Prime Minister of Canada. Trudeau served as prime minister from November 4, 2015 to March 14, 2025, having won three general elections.

A liberal, Trudeau was successful in his first general election as leader of the Liberal Party, which he defeated then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives in the general election of 2015 and formed a majority government. He was re-elected with a minority government in 2019 and again in 2021. He resigned the party leadership in 2025 and was succeeded by Mark Carney.

Trudeau has stood for election to the House of Commons five times and was elected each time (2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021), until he retired in 2025.

Unlike his predecessor and recent contemporaries, Trudeau never lost an election as party leader, nor as an MP, or a nomination; he was also the first prime minister to retire since former prime minister Jean Chrétien retired in 2003, and was succeeded as party leader, and prime minister by Paul Martin.

Trudeau was elected leader of the Liberal Party in 2013, succeeding Michael Ignatieff, who retired from politics after losing the general election of 2011.

Summary

Trudeau currently ranks seventh out of twenty-three prime ministers for time in office, serving one term of nine years and one hundred thirty days.PARLINFO: Prime Ministers of Canada.

Trudeau is the eighth prime minister from Quebec, the others being Sir John Abbott, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Louis St. Laurent, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. He is also the fifth francophone prime minister, the others being Laurier, St. Laurent, Pierre Trudeau, and Chrétien.

Trudeau was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008, at age 36. The Liberals were in opposition after the 2008 and 2011 general elections. Under Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, Trudeau was the Liberal critic for Citizenship and Immigration, Youth and Multiculturalism. The next leader, Michael Ignatieff, appointed him critic for Sports and Post-Secondary Education.Canadian Encyclopedia: "Justin Trudeau".

In the 2011 general election, the Liberals under the leadership of Ignatieff were reduced to third party status, their worst showing in history. Ignatieff lost his own seat and retired from politics. Trudeau announced he would seek the party leadership. In the 2013 vote, he won the leadership on the first ballot with 80% support.

Trudeau led the Liberals in the general election of 2015. At dissolution, the Liberals were in third place in the Commons, behind the Conservative Party, which held a majority government, and the New Democratic Party, which formed the Official Opposition. Trudeau led the Liberals to a majority government, defeating both the Conservatives led by Stephen Harper and the New Democrats led by Thomas Mulcair. Trudeau's government was sworn in on November 4, 2015.

Trudeau has stood for election to the House of Commons five times (in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021), each time from the riding of Papineau, in Montreal, Quebec. He has served in the House of Commons for .PARLINFO: The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C.

Although Trudeau was successful in leading the party in three general elections, a political crisis led to Trudeau's retirement early in 2025. He was succeeded by Mark Carney as prime minister and Liberal leader. Trudeau remained a Member of Parliament and sat as a Liberal back-bencher in the House of Commons until the 2025 general election, when he retired from politics.

Federal general elections: 2015 to 2021 Trudeau led the Liberal Party in three general elections. He won three (2015, 2019 and 2021). He won a majority government in the 2015 election, and two minority governments in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Federal general election: 2015

In his first general election as a party leader, Trudeau led the Liberals from third place in the House of Commons at dissolution to win a majority government, defeating incumbent prime minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 2015 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteJustin Trudeau118439.47%Stephen Harper29931.9%New Democratic PartyThomas Mulcair34419.7%Gilles Duceppe104.7%Elizabeth May13.5%Total 338 99.3%4Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of a third party when election was called; Prime Minister after election. 2 Prime Minister when election was called; Member of Parliament after the election. 3 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; leader of a third party after the election. 4 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal general election: 2019

In his second general election, Trudeau was re-elected with a minority government but lost the popular vote, defeating the new Conservative leader, Andrew Scheer.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 2019 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteJustin Trudeau115733.1%Andrew Scheer212134.4%Yves-François Blanchet327.7%New Democratic PartyJagmeet Singh2415.9%Elizabeth May36.5% Independent10.4%Total 338 98.0%3Sources: Elections Canada: October 21, 2019 Federal Election - Election Results

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 general election: 2021

In his third general election, Trudeau was re-elected with another minority government but lost the popular vote, defeating the new Conservative leader, Erin O'Toole.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 2021 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteJustin Trudeau116032.6%Erin O'Toole211933.7%Yves-François Blanchet327.6%New Democratic PartyJagmeet Singh2517.8%Annamie Paul22.3%Total 338 94.15%3Sources:

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: 2008 to 2021

Trudeau has stood for election to the House of Commons five times (in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021). He was elected all five times, each time from the riding of Papineau, in Montreal, Quebec.

2008 Federal Election: Papineau + Federal Election, 2008: Papineau, QuebecPartyCandidatePopular Vote % Justin Trudeau17,72441.5%X Vivian Barbot16,53538.7%New Democratic PartyCosta Zafiropoulos3,7348.7%Mustaque Sarker3,2627.6%Ingrid Hein1,2132.8%IndependentMahmoud Raza Baig2670.6%Total42,735 99.9%1Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Papineau

Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

2011 Federal Election: Papineau + Federal Election, 2011: Papineau, QuebecPartyCandidatePopular Vote % X Justin Trudeau16,42938.4%New Democratic PartyMarcos Radomes Tejada12,10228.3%Vivian Barbot11,09125.9%Shama Chopra2,0214.7%Danny Polifroni8061.9%Peter Macrisopoulos2280.5%Non-affiliatedJoseph Young950.2%Total42,772 99.9%1Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Papineau

Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

2015 Federal Election: Papineau + Federal Election, 2015: Papineau, QuebecPartyCandidatePopular Vote % X Justin Trudeau26,39152.0%New Democratic PartyAnne Lagacé Dowson13,13225.9%Maxime Claveau6,18212.2%Yvon Vadnais2,3904.7%Danny Polifroni1,4432.8%IndependentChris Lloyd5051.0%Tommy Gaudet3230.6%IndependentKim Waldron1590.3%Peter Macrisopoulos1420.3%Non-affiliatedBeverly Bernardo1030.2%Total50,770 100.0%Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Papineau

Elected. X Incumbent.

2019 Federal Election: Papineau + Federal Election, 2019: Papineau, QuebecPartyCandidatePopular Vote % X Justin Trudeau24,79751.2%Christine Paré9,13518.9%Christian Gagnon7,72215.9%Juan Vazquez3,6737.6%Sophie Veilleux2,0954.3%Jean-Patrick Cacereco Berthiaume3340.7%Mark Sibthorpe3110.6%Susanne Lefebvre1840.4%No affiliationLuc Lupien730.2%IndependentAlain Magnan730.2%No affiliationSteve Penner540.1%Total48,451 100.1%1Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Papineau

Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

2021 Federal Election: Papineau + Federal Election, 2021: Papineau, QuebecPartyCandidatePopular Vote % X Justin Trudeau22,84850.3%Christine Paré10,30322.6%Nabila Ben Youssef6,83015.0%Julio Rivera2,1984.8%Alain Lepine1,4583.2%Christian Boutin1,0642.3%Above Znoneofthe4180.9%Garnet Colly1150.3%IndependentRaymond Martin1020.2%IndependentBéatrice Zako970.2%Total45,423 99.8%1Source: Elections Canada - September 21, 2021 Federal Election - Election Results - Papineau

Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

2013 Liberal Party leadership election

Following the 2011 general election, the leader of the Liberals, Michael Ignatieff, announced his retirement. Trudeau entered the leadership contest, which was held in April, 2013. The vote was based on the 308 Liberal riding associations, which each had 100 points. All members of the party had the right to vote in the election through their riding associations. The points for each riding association were allocated in proportion to the local vote.

+ Liberal Leadership Election, April 14, 2013 First and only ballot Candidate Votes cast Points wonJustin Trudeau81,38978.8%24,66880.1% Joyce Murray12,14811.8%3,13010.2%Martha Hall Findlay6,5856.4%1,7605.7%Martin Cauchon1,6301.6%8152.6%Deborah Coyne8330.8%2140.7%Karen McCrimmon7570.7%2100.7%Total103,342100.1%130,797100.0%Sources: Huffington Post: Justin Trudeau Wins Liberal Leadership Race In Resounding Fashion; Globe & Mail: Justin Trudeau elected Liberal leader in a landslide.

1 Rounding error.

See also Electoral history of Stephen Harper – Trudeau's predecessor as prime minister. Electoral history of Mark Carney – Trudeau's successor as leader of the Liberal Party and as prime minister.

References

External links

Library of Parliament: History of Federal Ridings since 1867 Huffington Post: Justin Trudeau Wins Liberal Leadership Race In Resounding Fashion Globe & Mail: Justin Trudeau elected Liberal leader in a landslide.