The legislature was dissolved on August 17, 2020, in advance of the 2020 New Brunswick general election.

The incumbent Premier of New Brunswick Brian Gallant (Liberal) received permission from Lieutenant Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau to attempt to form a minority government.

While Gallant's Liberals finished second in the election by one seat to the Progressive Conservatives, neither party had enough seats to constitute a majority and as incumbent Gallant was given the opportunity first to attempt to form a government.

[2] Roy-Vienneau then asked Blaine Higgs of the Progressive Conservative party, to form a minority government on November 9, 2018.

Despite the fact that the Progressive Conservatives ended up winning one more seat than his party, premier Brian Gallant sought and received permission to attempt to form a government.