Charles Milliard Projected to Win Orford Riding in Quebec Election
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is projected to win his first legislative seat in the Orford riding during the October 5 provincial election.
The Canadian Press decision desk projects that Charles Milliard, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, will win the Orford riding in the Eastern Townships region. This marks Milliard's first attempt to secure a seat in the Quebec legislature and his first election as party leader.
A pharmacist and former CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Milliard assumed party leadership by acclamation in February 2026. He succeeded Pablo Rodriguez, who resigned in December 2025 following a vote-paying scandal. Milliard campaigned on a platform prioritizing the economy, public services, housing, and regional development, while positioning himself as a nationalist federalist who leans toward a Quebec-first perspective.
Throughout the campaign, Milliard sought to rebuild a party struggling with a poor 2022 performance and a loss of support among the francophone majority. He competed against other major figures, including Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime and sovereigntist candidates from the Parti Québecois and Québec solidaire. If successful in his bid for premier, Milliard would become the first openly gay leader of a Quebec government.
