From April 7 to 12, 2026, members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) voted in a leadership election to choose a successor for François Legault, who announced his resignation in January amid unfavourable opinion polling.
Christine Fréchette, a former member of the Legault ministry, won the election with over 57% of the vote, defeating Bernard Drainville, becoming the party's second leader and Quebec's second female premier.
Christine Fréchette would lead the party to a historic defeat, losing all 79 of their seats in an electoral wipeout in the 2026 Quebec general election. Background
Legault, the party's first leader who co-founded the party in 2011, led his party to two consecutive majority government victories in 2018 and 2022. From the 2018 general election until 2023, the Legault government enjoyed one of the highest approval ratings in Canada. However, from late 2023, the situation reversed; the Legault government become one of the most unpopular provincial governments in Canada, suffering from poor opinion polling throughout the 43rd Quebec Legislature. The party also lost the Jean-Talon, Terrebonne, Arthabaska, and Chicoutimi by-elections to the Parti Québécois, while losing 8 other MNAs due to either expulsions or resignations from caucus. In particular, Cabinet ministers Lionel Carmant, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Christian Dubé, Pierre Fitzgibbon, and Andrée Laforest all resigned due to various reasons since the 2022 election.
Despite saying he would lead the CAQ into the next election in December 2025, on January 14, 2026, Legault announced his pending resignation as Premier and leader of the CAQ. His party was sitting in either third or fourth place behind the PQ, Liberals, and the Conservative Party of Quebec, with the last poll before Legault's resignation showing them tied with Québec solidaire for the last place. Legault will remain as leader and Premier until a new leader is elected.
The election was held just months before the 2026 general election. It was also the party's first leadership election since its founding in 2011.
Campaign Fréchette's campaign mostly focused on economic issues, while Drainville focused on identity and immigration issues. She stated her support for the cancelled Programme de l'expérience québécoise; Drainville opposed this. During the campaign period, she raised nearly $120,000 while he raised nearly $55,000.
Rules To qualify, candidates collected: a minimum of 1,000 signatures from party members across at least 75 provincial electoral districts, the support of at least 15 members of the National Assembly (MNAs), and at least 100 members of the party's youth commission. To enter, candidates also paid a non-refundable deposit of $30,000 and were told to adhere to a spending limit of $150,000. The vote was held online and via telephone, with the voting period being between April 7 and April 12. The party also used a ranked-choice voting system to elect a leader.
In February 2026, Bernard Drainville called for the party to change its voting rules to limit leadership vote to Canadian citizens. Under the announced leadership rules, people 16 years and up who have been residents of Quebec for six months were eligible to vote. People not members of the party had until March 13 to purchase a membership card to vote.
Timeline January 14, 2026 – Legault announces his resignation as party leader, stating that he would remain in the position until a successor is elected. January 22, 2026 – The campaign period begins with the party announcing the rules of the race. January 24, 2026 – MNA for Lévis Bernard Drainville announces his candidacy. January 25, 2026 – MNA for Sanguinet Christine Fréchette announces her candidacy. February 21, 2026 — Deadline for candidates to register. March 13, 2026 — Membership eligibility deadline. March 21, 2026 – First leadership debate is held in Quebec City. March 28, 2026 – Second leadership debate is held in Laval. April 7, 2026 – Voting period begins. April 12, 2026 – Voting period concludes, with the winner being announced at the party's leadership convention in Drummondville.
Candidates
Declared Candidate Experience Announcement Date Campaign Ref. Bernard Drainville Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (2025–2026) Minister of Education (2022–2025) Minister of Democratic Institutions and Citizen Participation (2012–2014) CAQ MNA for Lévis (2022–present) PQ MNA for Marie-Victorin (2007–2016) Withdrawn candidate in the 2015 Parti Québécois leadership election January 24, 2026EndorsementsWebsite Christine Fréchette Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy (2024–2026) Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration (2022–2024) MNA for Sanguinet (2022–2026)January 25, 2026EndorsementsWebsite
Declined François Bonnardel, Minister of Public Security (2022–2025), MNA for Granby (2012–2026). (Endorsed Fréchette) Benoit Charette, MNA for Deux-Montagnes (2014–2026, 2008–2012). (Endorsed Fréchette) Guy Cormier, president and chief executive officer of Desjardins Group (2016–2025) Mario Dumont, leader of Action démocratique du Québec (1994–2009), Leader of the Opposition of Quebec (2007–2008), MNA for Rivière-du-Loup (1994–2009). Eric Girard, Minister of Finance (2018–present), MNA for Groulx (2018–present). (Endorsed Fréchette) Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier of Quebec (2018–2025), Minister of Municipal Affairs (2025–2026), MNA for Louis-Hébert (2017–2026). Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister of Justice (2020–present), MNA for Borduas (2014–present). (Endorsed Drainville) Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications (2022–2026), MNA for Papineau (2018–2026). (Endorsed Fréchette) Ian Lafrenière, MNA for Vachon (2018–present). (Endorsed Fréchette) Sonia LeBel, Minister of Education (2025–2026), MNA for Champlain (2018–2026). Samuel Poulin, MNA for Beauce-Sud (2018–present). (Endorsed Drainville) , businessman. Jean-François Simard, MNA for Montmorency (2018–present, 1998–2003). (Endorsed Fréchette) Christopher Skeete, MNA for Sainte-Rose (2018–present). (Endorsed Fréchette)
Endorsements
Opinion polling
Leadership election
CAQ supporters Polling firmLast dateSample sizeSourceGuyCormierChristianDubéBernardDrainvilleChristineFréchetteEricGirardGenevièveGuilbaultSimonJolin-BarretteSoniaLeBelJean-FrançoisRobergeOtherLégerMarch 30, 20261061 3.01%––24%61%–––––Don’t know/refused to answer 16%LégerJanuary 29, 2026134–––22%59%–––––Another candidate 5%Don’t know/refused to answer 14%LégerNovember 10, 202598–6%–1%9%–15%18%6%–Other 5%Don’t know/refused to answer 40%LégerJune 22, 2025117––20%6%2%–23%11%11%–Other 1%Don’t know/refused to answer 25%Pallas DataNovember 26, 2024204––16.2%9.1%–2.6%25.5%9.8%6.2%1.0%None of these candidates 7.9%Uncertain 21.7%
All Quebecers Polling firmLast dateSample sizeSourceGuyCormierChristianDubéBernardDrainvilleChristineFréchetteEricGirardGenevièveGuilbaultSimonJolin-BarretteSoniaLeBelJean-FrançoisRobergeOtherLégerMarch 30, 20261061 3.01%––14%38%–––––Don't know/refused to answer 48%LégerJanuary 29, 20261000±3.1%––10%34%–––––Another candidate 18%Don’t know/refused to answer 38% LégerNovember 10, 20251031±3.1%4%–4%5%–10%10%8%–Other 9%Don’t know/refused to answer 51%SOMOctober 12, 20251058±3.5%–10%6%5%–10%14%14%–Other 5%I don’t know 36%LégerJune 22, 20251056±3.0%–10%5%3%–12%8%9%–Other 10%Don’t know/refused to answer 44%Pallas DataNovember 26, 20241093±3%–10.4%6.1%–2.5%15.4%9.2%9.2%1.2%None of these candidates 24.3%Uncertain 21.8%
General election
Bernard Drainville as leader Polling organisationLast date of pollingSourceSample size CAQ QS PQ PLQ PCQ OtherLeadLégerApril 6, 20261,036 3.04%8932351333LégerMarch 30, 20261,061 3.01%101034311133LégerJanuary 29, 20261,0003.10%159342414410
Christine Fréchette as leader Polling organisationLast date of pollingSourceSample size CAQ QS PQ PLQ PCQ OtherLeadLégerApril 6, 20261,036 3.04%18830291221LégerMarch 30, 20261,061 3.01%161032281224LégerJanuary 29, 20261,0003.10%25730211435
Results First Ballot Candidate Vote share Christine Fréchette 57.9% Bernard Drainville 42.1% Totals100.0% Turnout was 77.1% (15,824 total votes cast). There were 20,524 eligible voters.
References