Notley was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the first time in the 2008 elections. She represented the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona. She was elected to this seat three more times, in 2012, 2015, and 2019. She became the leader of the New Democratic Party in 2014. In the 2015 elections, she became the Premier. This was after the NDPs won a majority government. Because they were elected, the Progressive Conservatives stopped ruling over Alberta for the first time in 44 years. After the 2019 elections, the NDPs lost to the United Conservative Party. Because of this, she became the Leader of the Opposition.