1919 Ontario general election

The 1919 Ontario general election, held on October 20, 1919, elected 111 Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs"). The United Farmers of Ontario captured the most seats but only a minority of the legislature. They joined with 11 Labour MPPs and three others to form a coalition government, ending the 14-year rule of the Ontario Conservatives.[1]

1919 Ontario general election

October 20, 1919
111 seats in the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario 56 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party   UFO LIB Leader none Hartley Dewart Party United Farmers Liberal Leader since - June 26, 1919 Leader's seat - Toronto Southwest Last election pre-creation 24 Seats won 44 27 Seat change 44 3 Percentage 21.7% 26.9% Swing 21.7% 11.7%   Third party Fourth party   LAB Leader William Hearst Walter Rollo Party Conservative Labour Leader since 1914 - Leader's seat Sault Ste. Marie (lost re-election) Hamilton West Last election 84 1 Seats won 25 11 Seat change 59 10 Percentage 34.9% 11.6% Swing 20.4% 10.3%
Premier before election William Hearst Conservative Premier after election Ernest C. Drury United Farmers

It was the 15th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. This was the first general election in which women could vote and run for office.

The young United Farmers of Ontario defeated the Ontario Conservative Party, led by Sir William Howard Hearst, trying for a fifth consecutive term in office, much of it under James Whitney. Whitney had died in 1914.

The UFO ran in the election without a party leader and with only two incumbent MPPs, Beniah Bowman and John Wesley Widdifield, who had entered the legislature by winning by-elections in Manitoulin and Ontario North. It emerged from the vote with the largest bloc of seats and joined the eleven Labour MLAs to form a coalition government. Liberal-UFO MLA David James Taylor of Grey North and "Soldier" MLA Joseph McNamara of Riverdale and Labour-UFO MLA Karl Homuth of Waterloo South were also members of the governing caucus giving Drury's coalition 58 seats in total.

Ernest C. Drury agreed to lead the new government as Premier of Ontario. Drury had not been a candidate in the election and had to run in a by-election to enter the legislature following his appointment to the office of Premier.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Hartley Dewart, maintained and increased the size of its caucus by a small number. The Conservative Party lost the most ground to the UFO and Labour.

This was the first general election in which women could vote and run for office. Three women ran as candidates: Justenia Sears (Ottawa West), Henrietta Bundy (Toronto Northeast B) and Elizabeth Allen (Fort William). None were elected.