CHARLOTTETOWN – Rob Lantz has emerged as the next premier of Prince Edward Island after securing the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party during its convention held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Lantz faced Mark Ledwell in a closely contested race, ultimately winning by just over 350 votes with 2,895 votes, which accounted for 53 percent of the total. Ledwell, who was seen as an underdog, garnered 2,542 votes, representing 46 percent.
Following the election results, Ledwell expressed his commitment to support Lantz, declaring, "Whoever wins, we get behind them and we try and do the job for islanders." He acknowledged that while he didn’t secure the win, his strong performance reinforces a desire for change within the party. He noted, "The party needs to engage in renewal and think about changing some things and that’s really what my campaign was all about."
Lantz, reflecting on the nature of leadership races, characterized them as “oppositional, but they’re not divisional.” He indicated that while an election isn’t out of the question, he believes Islanders are not keen on returning to the polls at this time, highlighting that the current government has not yet reached the halfway point of its mandate. Lantz stated, "We’ve got a 20-member strong caucus that islanders elected... So I think we have a mandate to continue governing.”
One of Lantz’s main priorities will be addressing energy issues in Prince Edward Island. He pointed out existing capacity problems and the necessity of modernizing energy infrastructure. Lantz specifically mentioned the need for a revamped profit structure for Maritime Electric, the province's energy provider, moving towards a performance-based model. "We need to modernize our regulatory infrastructure here so that we can modernize our energy infrastructure," he asserted.
The leadership race witnessed significant engagement, with a record turnout of 5,437 votes cast out of 6,132 eligible voters, representing an impressive 87 percent participation rate. Voter sentiment varied, with supporters like Anne Christopher favoring Lantz for his collaborative approach and capability to address the ongoing "Maritime Electric fiasco." She expressed confidence that Lantz could resolve key issues alongside his fellow MLAs.
Conversely, Mitchel Smelgrove supported Ledwell, emphasizing his experience in law and business as vital for bridging gaps between provincial and federal levels of government. He argued that this experience could be crucial for addressing current challenges faced by various provinces.
Rob Lantz had previously been appointed interim leader and interim premier in February 2025 following Dennis King's resignation after nearly six years in office. After stepping down in December to pursue the position of permanent leader, he was succeeded by Bloyce Thompson who was sworn into office that same month. Ledwell’s long-standing connection to the party was underscored by his announcement to run for leadership in May.
Lantz is expected to assume the role of premier shortly, with the necessary paperwork anticipated to be finalized early in the week. In the immediate future, he plans to celebrate the victory with family and watch the Super Bowl before transitioning to his responsibilities as premier on Monday.
This leadership change marks a pivotal moment for the Progressive Conservative party in Prince Edward Island as it navigates future challenges and seeks to implement the changes promised during the campaign.
