Quebec Election Campaign Begins Thursday Ahead of October 5 Vote

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published August 26, 2026

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Quebec is set to officially enter its provincial election campaign on Thursday, August

27, as Premier Christine Fréchette is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting at 10 a.m. before meeting Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeannotte, paving the way for the dissolution of the National Assembly and the start of a 39 day campaign leading to the October 5 vote.

Under Quebec’s electoral system, provincial general elections are held on a fixed date, although the premier can ask the lieutenant governor to dissolve the National Assembly earlier. Élections Québec says a general election must be called no later than August 29 and an election period can last between 33 and 39 days.

The campaign begins with Quebec’s major parties preparing for a competitive race. On the eve of dissolution, the governing Coalition Avenir Québec holds 79 seats, compared with 18 for the Quebec Liberals, 11 for Québec solidaire, seven for the Parti Québécois, one for the Quebec Conservatives and nine independents.

Fréchette will lead the CAQ into a general election for the first time after succeeding François Legault as party leader and premier in April. She will face Parti Québécois Leader Paul St Pierre Plamondon, Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal and Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime.

The latest Léger voting intention poll published this week puts the Parti Québécois in the lead at 30 per cent, with the CAQ and Quebec Liberals tied at 23 per cent. The race remains fluid, with an earlier August survey showing that nearly half of Quebec voters had not yet made a final choice.

Health and social services, the cost of living and purchasing power, and affordable housing are among the issues Quebecers say will weigh most heavily on their vote. The campaign also begins as the province faces growing economic uncertainty linked to Canada’s escalating trade dispute with the United States.