Rakhi Pancholi (born 16 August 1977) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Edmonton-Whitemud. Born to Tanzanian and Indian parents,[1] she is a lawyer in Edmonton with a focus on education law.[2]

On 8 February 2024, Pancholi announced that she was running for Leader of the Alberta NDP.[citation needed] On June 24, 2024, the new leader of the New Democratic Party, Naheed Nenshi, appointed Pancholi as the Deputy Leader of the New Democratic Party.[3]

Education

Pancholi completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Alberta, majoring in history and political science. She studied law at the University of Toronto, with a focus on Constitutional Law.

Career

Pancholi was a practising lawyer in Edmonton with a focus on labour/employment and education law. She has experience working with the Alberta School Boards Association and was a senior legislative consultant for Alberta Education.[4]

Pancholi helped to establish LEAF's "No Means No" (NMN) program in 2007 which focused on youth and sexual assault issues.[5] Between 2008 and 2013, she worked for the Alberta government in the Alberta Education Department. During that time she led the drafting the Education Act.[6] Pancholi also worked for Alberta school boards.[6]

In 2019, Pancholi entered politics and was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Edmonton-Whitemud.

Personal life

Pancholi has two young children with her husband Owen. They have two rescue dogs, and they are both advocates for animal rescue and adoption.[4]

Electoral history

2023 general election

2023 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Whitemud
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Rakhi Pancholi 12,797 60.40 +11.22
United Conservative Raj Sherman 7,799 36.81 -2.63
Liberal Donna Wilson 370 1.75
Green Cheri Hawley 221 1.04
Total 21,187 99.29
Rejected and declined 152 0.71
Turnout 21,339 64.65
Eligible voters 33,005
New Democratic hold Swing +6.92
Source(s)

2019 general election

2019 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Whitemud
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Rakhi Pancholi 11,373 49.18% -8.27%
United Conservative Elisabeth Hughes 9,120 39.44% 0.86%
Alberta Party Jonathan Dai 2,335 10.10%
Freedom Conservative Jason Norris 297 1.28%
Total 23,125
Rejected, spoiled and declined 63 76 18
Eligible electors / turnout 32,810 70.73% 10.33%
New Democratic hold Swing -7.75%
Source(s)
Source: "46 - Edmonton-Whitemud, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). 2019 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer. Volume II (PDF) (Report). Vol. 2. Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta. pp. 180–183. ISBN 978-1-988620-12-1. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

References

  1. ^ "Rakhi Pancholi | Alberta Democrats | Ladies Corner with Tee – Jacana Books". Archived from the original on 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  2. ^ "Top down or grassroots? NDP, UCP take differing approaches to gender balance | CBC News".
  3. ^ "NDP leader Naheed Nenshi makes changes to party leadership". City News. Rogers Sports & Media. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b Pancholi, Rakhi. "Elected Members". Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
  5. ^ "Branch Highlights" (PDF). 2007/2008 LEAF/FAEJ Annual Report: 5. 2008.
  6. ^ a b Bellefontaine, Michelle (June 17, 2019). "Education minister walks back earlier statement on Alberta GSA protections". CBC. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "46 - Edmonton-Whitemud". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 9, 2023.


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