McPherson became the
New Democratic Party's candidate for
Edmonton Strathcona after incumbent
Linda Duncan announced her intentions to retire. During the
2019 election, McPherson was endorsed by
Green Party of Canada candidate Michael Kalmanovitch, in an attempt to prevent vote splitting. In the
43rd Canadian Parliament, which lasted from 2019 until the
2021 Canadian federal election was called, she was the only non-
Conservative MP from Alberta. Alongside former
Alberta premier Rachel Notley, McPherson supported the project to expand the
Trans Mountain pipeline, despite the project being opposed by New Democratic Party leadership. McPherson has also advocated to limit coal mining in the
Rocky Mountains and increase environmental oversight over mining. She was re-elected in 2021, and was appointed the NDP critic for Foreign Affairs in the
44th Canadian Parliament. McPherson is known for pressing the
Liberals to
recognize Palestinian statehood, stating they lacked the "moral courage and political will" to advance a
two-state solution between
Palestine and
Israel. McPherson was part of a group of Canadian
Members of Parliament who travelled to the
West Bank and
Jordan as part of a fact-finding tour that involved meetings with
Palestinian refugees, diplomatic officials,
United Nations aid workers, and Israeli peace activists. In 2022, McPherson, along with
Jagmeet Singh,
Charlie Angus and
Anne McGrath formed a
New Democratic Party delegation which visited
Germany, meeting with
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leading members of the
Social Democratic Party of Germany. In April 2022, McPherson proposed that the Canadian government recognize a
genocide of
Ukrainians by the
Russian Armed Forces during the
Russo-Ukrainian War. The proposal was passed unanimously in the
House of Commons. As foreign affairs critic, she has also supported international
nuclear disarmament. This led to party leader
Jagmeet Singh resigning from his role. Despite the defeat, McPherson said that she will now focus on the Liberals living up to "the promises they made to Canadians," ensuring her party "will do that."
2026 leadership campaign McPherson ran as a candidate in the
2026 New Democratic Party leadership election, launching her campaign on September 28, 2025, in
Edmonton. McPherson placed second in fundraising with over $700,000 and over 4,000 donors. During the campaign period, she was endorsed by former Alberta premier
Rachel Notley and former Ontario MP
Charlie Angus, among others. She came second in the first round behind
Avi Lewis, receiving 20,899 votes (29.5%) to Lewis's 39,734 (56.0%)., and making the party more electorally viable by building a "bigger table".. In her final address to NDP party members before the leadership ballot selection, McPherson stated that “across the country our values are winning” and called for unity with provincial wings of the NDP. Darren Major of CBC News wrote these remarks "appeared to be aimed at contrasting" her approach with that of her main contender, Lewis, whom critics said could create divisions with provincial party wings. Gazan said “Rejecting so-called ‘purity tests’ isn’t about broadening the movement — it’s about narrowing it back to those who have always held power within it”. == Personal life ==