Legault Succession Race Heats Up as Vote Begins in Quebec’s Ruling Party

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 7, 2026

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The race to succeed Quebec Premier François Legault moved into its decisive phase on Tuesday as members of the Coalition Avenir Québec began voting for the party’s next leader, who will also become the province’s next premier. Voting opened on April 7 and runs until 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, with about 20,500 eligible members able to cast ballots.

The biggest late push went to Bernard Drainville after three additional cabinet ministers publicly backed his campaign: Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, Health Minister Sonia Bélanger and Transport Minister Jonatan Julien. Even so, Christine Fréchette entered the final stretch with broader institutional support, having built a larger base among ministers and caucus members over the course of the race.

The stakes go far beyond an internal party contest. The winner will automatically become CAQ leader and Quebec premier only months before the provincial election scheduled for October. The vote is also unfolding at a delicate moment for the party, with recent reporting pointing to political pressure and weaker standing against key rivals, turning the succession battle into a major test of whether the CAQ can regain momentum before the next election.