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Jason Kenney has swept to victory as the first leader of Alberta’s new United Conservative Party.

Kenney was elected with 61.1 per cent of the vote, beating former Wildrose leader Brian Jean, with 31.5 per cent, and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer with 7.3 per cent.

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He was declared the winner in a press release posted to the party’s website well before the news was announced at the UCP event at the Stampede grounds in Calgary, which was jammed with close to 2,000 party supporters.

A party official admitted the premature press release was posted early by mistake.

After taking the stage to the Paul Brandt song Alberta Bound, Kenney used his victory speech to thank Jean and Schweitzer, and launch a rallying cry for the 2019 election.

In that election, he declared to party faithful, the “deceptive,” “job-killing,” “accidental socialist government” of the NDP will be limited to one term.

Kenney told the crowd the UCP was sending a message to all Albertans, that “hope is on the horizon and common sense is coming back.”