Calgary Ward 13 Councillor Dan McLean has announced he will run for the United Conservative Party nomination in Calgary-Shaw, the provincial riding currently represented by MLA Rebecca Schulz. Schulz announced at the end of 2025 that she would leave cabinet and step down from her seat in 2026, creating the expectation of a byelection in the riding later this year. McLean said he made the decision after speaking with residents and hearing encouragement to continue the work Schulz had done in the area.
McLean was first elected to Calgary city council in 2021, defeating longtime Ward 13 councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, and was re-elected with one of the largest margins of victory in the most recent municipal election. In announcing his provincial bid, McLean pointed to his council record, saying he has focused on taxpayer issues, safer communities, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. His first term included several controversies, but LiveWire Calgary reported that his second term has been less turbulent and that he has taken on more of a leadership role at city hall.
Several council colleagues acknowledged McLean’s decision, including Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who credited him with leadership on issues such as the motion to repeal blanket rezoning and noted that municipal experience could be valuable at the provincial level. Ward 14 Councillor Landon Johnston also expressed support, saying McLean’s city hall experience could translate well to provincial politics. If McLean wins the UCP nomination and is later elected provincially, it would likely trigger a byelection in Ward 13, though the timing remains unclear
