Upon the resignation of Liberal leader Yvonne Jones on August 9, 2011, 62 days before the provincial election, Aylward ran in the leadership race to succeed her.

[1] On October 26, 2011, he resigned as leader after failing to win the district of St. George's-Stephenville East in the 2011 provincial election.

While the Liberals managed to remain the Official Opposition, they placed third in the popular vote winning only 19.1 per cent.

[8] On October 26, 2011, Aylward announced his resignation as leader after failing to win the district of St. George's-Stephenville East.

[9] In 2021, Aylward unsuccessfully ran in Stephenville-Port au Port as the Liberal candidate for the 2021 provincial election.