In 2026, the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island held a leadership election to choose a successor to Dennis King. The election was triggered on February 20, 2025, after King announced his resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and Premier of Prince Edward Island, effective the following day. The PC caucus selected Rob Lantz as premier and interim leader, pending the election of his successor. In December 2025, Lantz resigned from both positions to seek the permanent leadership and was succeeded by Bloyce Thompson.
On February 7, 2026, Lantz, the winner of the 2015 leadership election, defeated lawyer Mark Ledwell and returned as PC leader and premier.
Timeline
- February 20, 2025 â Progressive Conservative leader and Premier Dennis King announced his resignation (effective the following day), in a press conference.
- February 21, 2025 â King resigns, Rob Lantz appointed interim leader and Premier until a successor is elected.
- February 21, 2025 â MLA Cory Deagle announces his candidacy.
- May 22, 2025 â Lawyer Mark Ledwell announces his candidacy.
- October 10, 2025 â Deagle withdraws his candidacy.
- December 10, 2025 â Leadership election date set for February 7, 2026.
- December 8, 2025 â Progressive Conservative candidate Brendan Curran defeated Liberal leader Robert Mitchell in the 2025 Georgetown-Pownal provincial by-election by a five-point margin, a substantially reduced margin from the 57-point margin outgoing MLA Steven Myers, a former minister and former interim party leader, secured in the 2023 provincial election.
- December 11, 2025 â PC interim leader and Premier, Rob Lantz, announces resignation from both positions in order to run for party leadership.
- December 12, 2025 â Lantz's resignations take effect. Bloyce Thompson becomes premier and interim party leader.
- January 14, 2026 â First leadership forum took place at the Consolidated Credit Union Place in Summerside.
- January 16, 2026 â Last day to join the party to vote.
- January 22, 2026 â Second leadership forum took place at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague.
- February 2, 2026 â Third and final leadership forum took place at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.
- February 7, 2026 â Leadership convention takes place at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. Final day to vote online or in-person. Rob Lantz is elected leader on the only ballot.
Candidates
Approved
Rob Lantz
Rob Lantz is the MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton since 2023. He was the Minister of Housing, Land and Communities from 2023 to 2024 and the Minister of Education and Early Years from 2024 to 2025. He was previously elected party leader in 2015, resigning later that year. Following Dennis King's resignation, Lantz was named interim party leader and sworn in as Premier; he resigned from both positions to enter the leadership contest. (Declared December 11, 2025)
Mark Ledwell
Mark Ledwell is a lawyer and former managing partner at Gowling WLG. He has advised on issues related to finance, infrastructure, energy and agri-food. (Declared May 22, 2025)
Withdrawn
Cory Deagle
Minister of Fisheries and Communities (2023âÂÂ2025), MLA for Montague-Kilmuir (2019âÂÂpresent). (Declared February 26, 2025, Withdrew October 10, 2025)
Results
References