1926 Canadian Federal Election

King–Byng election

September 14, 1926 · War & fragmentation · 245 seats, 123 for a majority

The King–Byng election: after Governor General Byng refused King a dissolution and Meighen's three-day government fell, King campaigned against imperial interference and returned with 116 seats and effective control, an episode still cited in every constitutional crisis since.

Prime Minister before

Arthur Meighen

Conservative

Prime Minister after

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Liberal

Government formed

Liberal

minority government

Turnout

67.7%

The result

Share of House
LiberalW. L. Mackenzie King116+16
1,397,03142.9%+3.1
ConservativeArthur Meighen91-24
1,476,83445.4%-0.8
Progressivenone11-11
128,0603.9%-4.5
United Farmers of AlbertaJohn E. Brownlee11+9
60,7401.9%+1.6

16 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.

The result by province & territory

Seats won and vote share in each province and territory. Blank cells mean the party did not contest the province; the results table splits allied labels (Liberal-Conservatives, farmers' candidates, independents) that the headline figures group together.

Liberal137.0%324.5%1651.3%418.4%2435.3%5961.3%446.1%243.5%352.7%044.1%11642.8%
Conservative1254.2%131.5%027.5%039.7%5354.9%434.0%753.9%1253.7%147.3%155.9%9145.4%
Progressive417.9%411.2%35.1%113.9%
United Farmers of Alberta1138.7%111.9%
Liberal-Progressive13.2%719.5%01.4%81.9%
Labour06.4%14.3%28.7%11.1%02.8%41.7%
Independent12.3%00.1%00.5%11.9%20.8%
Independent Liberal12.3%10.6%
United Farmers of Ontario10.6%10.2%
Total seats141621178265111441245