The rules and format of the leadership election were decided by the party in March 2017 where no major changes to the status quo were approved.
The party decided in favour of holding a traditional delegated leadership convention rather than a one member, one vote election.
[10][20] Pledges made by Kinew included: Incumbent MLA for Fort Rouge since 2016, former broadcaster, musician, author, and professor.
[27] Michelle McHale is a staff representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers union and social activist.
She gained national prominence for organizing a pride parade in Steinbach, a conservative town in the province's Bible Belt.