The NDP was dealt a severe blow when the PCs and Wildrose merged to form the United Conservative Party, which immediately ascended to a large lead in opinion polling. At the 2019 election, the NDP was roundly defeated by the UCP, under the leadership of former federal minister Jason Kenney. Though Notley received more votes in total than the previous election, turnout surged dramatically in Kenney's direction. The NDP was cut down to 24 seats on 32.7 percent of the vote from 54 seats and 40.6 percent of the vote. The party more than held its own in Edmonton, where it won 19 of 20 seats. However, it was almost shut out in the rest of the province, losing all but three seats in Calgary, one seat in the Edmonton suburbs, and one seat in Lethbridge. It is the first time in the province's history that an incumbent government has been defeated after only one term. Notley's popularity within the NDP remained firm, and she stayed on as Leader of the Opposition, helming the largest opposition caucus in the province since Laurence Decore's Liberals won 32 seats in 1993.