If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably noticed that the Green Party isn't just a group of people in sandals talking about compost anymore. It’s getting serious. The recent Green Party leadership election has basically flipped the script on what third-party politics looks like in 2026.
Honestly, most folks think these internal votes are just bureaucratic box-ticking. They aren’t.
For the Green Party of England and Wales, the 2025 contest was a massive vibe shift. We saw Zack Polanski—a guy who talks about "eco-populism" like he’s trying to start a movement, not just pass a bill—take a landslide victory with 84.1% of the vote. He didn't just win; he crushed a joint ticket of two sitting MPs, Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns. That’s huge. It tells you exactly where the membership's head is at. They don't want "polite" politics; they want to get loud.
Why the Green Party Leadership Election actually changed everything
People keep asking: "Why does it matter who leads a party with a handful of seats?"
It matters because of the "Polanski surge." Since Zack took over in September 2025, membership has more than doubled. People are frustrated with the status quo. When Polanski beat out Ramsay and Chowns, he wasn't just winning a title. He was winning a mandate to take on Reform UK and Labour directly.
The dynamic is kinda wild. On one hand, you had Ramsay and Chowns—solid, respectable MPs who proved the Greens could win in rural areas. On the other, you had Polanski, a London Assembly member who wants to renationalize water and tax billionaires until their eyes water. The members chose the radical path. They’re betting that the "nice" version of the Greens won't survive the next few years of political chaos.
The Scottish Green Party: A Generational Torch-Pass
North of the border, things got even more dramatic. In August 2025, the Scottish Green Party had its own leadership shakeup. Patrick Harvie, who had been co-leader for basically forever (17 years!), finally stepped down.
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Then came the real shocker. Lorna Slater, the other incumbent co-leader, actually lost her re-election bid. That almost never happens to sitting leaders. Members were clearly cheesed off about how the coalition deal with the SNP collapsed back in '24.
Now, we’ve got Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay at the helm. It’s a total generational shift. Greer is only 31, and Mackay is 33. They’re positioning the Scottish Greens as the only "genuinely progressive" party left, especially with the SNP dropping policies like hot potatoes and Labour leaning into more centrist territory.
What’s happening with the Green Party of Canada?
While the UK Greens are surging, the situation in Canada is... well, it’s complicated. Elizabeth May is still there, but she’s basically the captain of a ship that’s looking for a new harbor.
After a disappointing federal election in 2025 where the party only kept one seat, things got tense. Jonathan Pedneault resigned as co-leader immediately. May then announced she’d step down too—but not yet. She’s sticking around until 2026 to help pay off the party’s $600,000 debt.
Some members aren't happy about the wait. A group led by Eric Gilmour tried to oust her in a leadership review last October, but May held on with 80.8% support. So, the Green Party leadership election in Canada is currently a "TBD" situation. They’re focused on the bank account before they focus on the ballot box. It’s a gamble. If they wait too long, they might lose whatever momentum they have left.
Breaking down the 2024 US Green Party Nomination
It’s worth looking back at how Jill Stein secured the nomination for the 2024 US Presidential race. This wasn't a close fight. Stein took 267 out of 287 delegate votes at the virtual convention.
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- Jill Stein: 91.1% of the vote.
- Jasmine Sherman: 4.4%.
- Uncommitted: 2.4%.
It showed a party that was unified, sure, but also one that is heavily reliant on a single, familiar face. Unlike the UK Greens, who are constantly cycling in new blood like Polanski or Greer, the US Greens seem stuck in a loop with Stein. Whether that works in the long run is a massive point of debate among third-party activists.
The "Eco-Populism" Factor: A New Strategy
What Polanski is doing in England is fascinating. He’s leaning into something called "eco-populism." Basically, he’s trying to steal the lunch of parties like Reform UK by talking to the same "left-behind" voters, but offering green solutions instead of right-wing ones.
He even visited Clacton—Nigel Farage’s seat—to talk to people there. That takes some guts for a Green leader. He’s betting that if you talk about wealth taxes and fixing the broken water system, you can win over people who are tired of the "metropolitan elite."
It’s a risky move. Ramsay and Chowns warned that this could turn the Greens into a "Jeremy Corbyn support act." They wanted to keep things focused on winning seats by being the "adults in the room." The membership clearly disagreed. They want a fight.
The Deputy Leader Shuffle
Don’t ignore the deputy races. They often signal where the grassroots are moving. In the 2025 GPEW election, Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward were elected as deputies. Ali, a Leeds councillor, is a big deal because he represents a bridge to younger, more diverse urban voters who care about social justice as much as the climate.
Actionable Insights: What you should do next
The landscape of green politics has shifted from "protest" to "power struggle." If you're interested in how these leadership changes affect actual policy or your local area, here is how you can stay informed or get involved:
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1. Watch the polling "Polanski Surge"
Keep an eye on the UK local election polls for 2026. If the Greens start outperforming the Liberal Democrats in urban areas, Polanski’s eco-populism is working. This will be the first real test of his "bold leadership" slogan.
2. Follow the Canadian Debt Clock
If you're in Canada, the next leadership race won't happen until that $600k debt is cleared. Watch the Green Party of Canada's financial reports. Once they hit the black, expect a flurry of candidates to jump in to replace Elizabeth May.
3. Engage with local "Global Majority Greens"
This group is becoming hugely influential in internal Green Party elections. They were a big part of the 2025 cycle, pushing for more focus on racial and economic justice. Their endorsements often determine who wins the deputy spots.
4. Check out the "Bold Politics" Podcast
Zack Polanski launched a weekly podcast right after his win. If you want to hear the raw, unedited version of this new Green strategy, that’s the place to go. It’s currently charting high for a reason—people are curious about this new direction.
5. Monitor the Scottish "Generational Shift"
Watch how Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay handle the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. This will be the definitive proof of whether the Scottish Greens can survive—and thrive—outside the shadow of Patrick Harvie and the SNP coalition.
The Green Party isn't just one thing anymore. It's a collection of different movements—some radical, some pragmatist—all fighting for the soul of the environmental movement. The leadership elections are where that fight gets settled.