Éric Duhaime has emerged victorious, securing a seat in the National Assembly for the first time in his political career. As the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Duhaime won the Bellechasse riding in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, marking a significant milestone for the party. This win also represents the first time in nearly 91 years that the Quebec Conservatives have secured a seat in the National Assembly.
Duhaime’s journey to the National Assembly has been a winding one. This victory comes after his fourth attempt at winning a legislative seat. Previously, Duhaime ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the now-defunct Action démocratique du Québec party in the Deux-Montagnes riding in 2003. In the 2022 provincial election, he finished second in the Chauveau riding, and in the 2025 byelection in the Arthabaska riding, he also came in second behind the Parti Québécois candidate.
Having assumed leadership of the Conservative Party of Quebec in 2021, Duhaime led the party to secure 12 percent of the votes in the 2022 provincial election, although they did not win any National Assembly seats at that time. However, the party gained a seat in 2025 when Maïté Blanchette Vézina joined after leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec.
In the recent 2026 campaign, Duhaime’s platform focused on advocating for change, emphasizing opposition to a referendum, and addressing the cost of living in Quebec. His campaign highlighted the struggles of Quebecers to make ends meet and included proposals for tax-cut measures. Moving forward, with his entry into the National Assembly, Duhaime aims to champion right-wing Conservative ideals while also expressing a firm stance against any potential referendum, signaling a new era for the party.