Avi Lewis has wide lead in NDP leadership fundraising

Fundraising suggests Lewis might be the heavy favourite to win.

Avi Lewis has raised the most money in the NDP leadership race, suggesting that he is currently the clear front runner to replace Jagmeet Singh when the New Democrats choose their next leader on March 29.

Fundraising data published today by Elections Canada, which includes all donations up to December 31, show Lewis raised $778,869, well ahead of his rivals for the top job. Edmonton MP Heather McPherson stands in second with $415,490 raised by the end of 2025.

Rob Ashton is third in the fundraising race, with $231,095, followed by Tanille Johnston with $142,129 and Tony McQuail with $95,093.

These figures do not include any funds raised in January. The Lewis campaign says it has raised $1 million so far — suggesting that they’ve taken in over $200,000 in January — while both Johnston and McQuail have paid the entry fee of $100,000. The NDP takes a cut from all contestant fundraising, so both would have had to raise more money in January to cover the fee (especially McQuail).

Fundraising is a very predictive metric in leadership contests. In both 2012 and 2017, the share of fundraising for each NDP leadership candidate was very predictive of the first ballot results:

If these fundraising figures are also predictive of the contours of the 2026 race, then Lewis is in sight of a first ballot victory. He raised 46.8% of all the money raised by the leadership contestants up to the end of 2025. McPherson raised 25%, followed by Ashton at 13.9%, Johnston at 8.5% and McQuail at 5.7%.

Lewis also has the most donors at 5,986, followed by McPherson with 2,529, Johnston with 1,432, Ashton with 1,354 and McQuail with 824. However, the number of donors has not been as predictive as fundraising in the past.

There are some significant regional differences between each of the candidates. But, with the exception of Alberta, Lewis has raised the most money in every region of the country. Let’s take a look at how fundraising breaks down regionally.