The NDP will run a fresh face against Blaine Higgs in the Quispamsis riding.
Caitlin Grogan, who gained popularity on social media after calling out the Saint John Police Force‘s reporting of sexual assault earlier this year, will challenge the Progressive Conservative leader and incumbent premier.
Grogan says her primary campaign issue is ensuring “a just and equitable recovery from COVID-19.” She wants the next government to focus on investing in healthcare and universal childcare.
“The Higgs government has spent the least as a percentage of GDP on our COVID-19 response of any province and he is leaving vulnerable New Brunswickers behind,” Grogan said.
Until recently, the rookie candidate had no intention of running, until the New Brunswick NDP reached out with an offer to join the party. She believes they looked to her because she’s young, passionate, and has “a voice they would want to have around the table.”
Over the weekend, Grogan drove down to a Higgs campaign event in St. Stephen in order to protest the party leader’s lack of support for Clinic 554 in Fredericton.
apparently i don’t have the budget for a campaign bus, but i can afford bristol board! pic.twitter.com/XFXBD3IdEj
— cait grogan
(@thecaitdiaries) August 22, 2020
Grogan believes the possible closure of the clinic is an issue that affects all New Brunswickers. She’d like to see the clinic’s model expanded to the rest of the province.
“Saint John doesn’t have any specialized LGBTQ+ healthcare, and there are people in this riding who travel up to Fredericton to receive specialized treatment at Clinic 554,” she said.
Prior to announcing her candidacy, Grogan had been critical of the PC party leader on social media, fashioning a mug referencing Higgs’ name which included an expletive.
She says she plans to focus on the issues during the campaign, rather than antagonizing the incumbent.
“I have no interest in petty arguments or anything like that, but at the same time I’m not going to change who I am,” Grogan said. “I’m just a normal person who has thoughts and opinions, and I don’t think that should be hidden. But I’m mostly focused on our election issues.”
In 2018, the NDP finished a distant fifth in Quispamsis, winning just 2.9 per cent of the vote. Grogan understands the narrative that she’s a long-shot to win, but she’s excited about what her candidacy could mean.
“For a long time, people haven’t seen folks like themselves step up and put their name out there for politics,” she said. “Especially young people. I don’t remember the last time I saw someone under 25 on the ballot (in Quispamsis).”
