Michelle Rempel Garner is giving 'serious consideration' to UCP leadership bid

Calgary Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner saysshe is giving a leadership bid for Alberta's United Conservative Party "serious consideration."

In a Twitter thread on Wednesday night,Rempel Garner said she has been encouraged to seek the leadership of the UCP and will no longer be participating in the federal Conservative leadership race.

Rempel Garner's comments come nearly a month after Alberta Premier Jason Kenneyannounced his intention to resign as UCP leaderthough he is staying on until a new leader is chosen.

Rempel Garner wasco-chair of Brampton MayorPatrick Brown's campaign for the federal Conservative leadership.

"I owe it to Albertans to give this critical decision my full and complete attention," wrote Rempel Garner.

"I will make my decision based on the conversations I have with the people I represent Albertans."

The Twitter announcement marks Rempel Garner's first public comment in relation to the raceafter being heavily rumoured to announce her candidacy.

Rempel Garner is a well-known political presence in Calgary whosefar-reaching platform includes both strong support for LGBTQ rights and gun ownership.

She was alsoone of just two remaining MPssupporting Brown's bid for the federal Conservative leadership campaign.

Bid for 'bigger splash,' says pollster

Political commentator and pollster Janet Brown said Rempel Garner's one-foot-in approach to announcing her bid could be a strategy to assess her support base.

"She's probably trying to build a little bit of excitement, get some people to step out and speak in her favour and ifshe does decide to run, maybe she'll have a bigger splash because she built up the suspense a bit."

The pollster said Rempel Garner's withdrawal from Patrick Brown'sfederal leadership bid could further undermine his ballot hopes.

"[It's]a big blow to him. He already lost support from a couple other MLAs earlier this week and it may really signal almost the official end of his campaign," said Brown.

Moderate on social policies

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said that Rempel Garner, as a federal politician,carries a degree ofbaggage. Both Jim Prentice,a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, and Kenney, also a high-profile Conservative cabinet member, struggled in the provincial realm.

Prentice, who led Alberta's Progressive Conservative party, lost to Rachel Notley's NDP in 2015.

Still, Bratt believes Rempel Garner would have support as a candidate.

"She's moderate on social policies, but also signed the Buffalo Declaration. So we'll have to see." The Buffalo Declaration, a document signed in 2020 by four Conservative AlbertaMPs including RempelGarnerargues for a better position for Alberta in Confederation.

Kenney resigned last month after earning 51.4 per cent support in a leadership review. Heplans to stay on as premieruntil the party chooses a new leader in October.