QuickSketch: Rob Lantz, P.E.I. Premier-designate and Tory leader

Rob Lantz speaks at P.E.I. PC leadership convention in Charlottetown, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Bernard

CHARLOTTETOWN — A look at Rob Lantz, who was elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives of Prince Edward Island on Saturday, also becoming premier-designate in the process.

A record number of ballots were cast, with 5,437 votes cast out of 6,132 eligible voters. Party members voted online and at the party convention in Charlottetown on Saturday.

Lantz took 53 per cent of the votes, while challenger Mark Ledwell eked out 46 per cent.

Before politics: Lantz was born in Charlottetown in 1970 and calls himself a lifelong resident of the district. His great-grandfather operated a lobster processing plant and his grandfather was one of the founders of P.E.I.’s first medical clinic.

Lantz worked as a programmer and project manager for software company DeltaWare Systems before being elected to Charlottetown city council in 2006. He served two terms on city council before stepping down in 2014.

Political career: Lantz was previously elected leader of the PC party in 2015, and served for seven months before losing his own seat in the provincial election. He stepped down as party leader September 2015.

Lantz won the riding of Charlottetown-Brighton in the 2023 provincial election and served as minister of housing, land and communities in premier Dennis King’s cabinet. In October of 2024, he was appointed minister of education and early years.

After Dennis King stepped down in February 2025, Lantz became the 34th premier of Prince Edward Island and interim-leader of the PC Party.

Lantz stepped down as party leader in late 2025 and announced his intention to run for the position permanently.

Quote: “This is an incredible opportunity. This doesn’t happen very often, that a governing party undertakes a leadership convention in the middle of being the government. I think it’s probably a good thing to renew the government, renew the party, send us back with a renewed sense of purpose and new ideas.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2026.

Emily Baron Cadloff, The Canadian Press