The former MP, once underestimated, is back in Berthier–Maskinongé—and she’s not here to play the part
She went from an underdog paper candidate who missed her own campaign to a two-time MP who held one of Quebec’s most unpredictable ridings — and now, Ruth Ellen Brosseau is staging a political comeback.
Once dubbed “Vegas Girl” by headlines during her shocking 2011 win, Brosseau has been re-nominated by the New Democratic Party to run in Berthier–Maskinongé, a seat she held for two terms before narrowly losing in 2019 and again in 2021.
So, who is Ruth Ellen Brosseau today — and why is her return stirring interest once more?
The “Vegas Girl” Origin Story
Brosseau first gained national attention in 2011, not for campaigning, but for not campaigning.
At 27, she was working at a campus pub in Ottawa and raising her son when the NDP approached her to stand in for another candidate. She agreed — and then left the country mid-campaign for a pre-booked birthday trip to Las Vegas.
She didn’t knock doors. She wasn’t fluent in French. She’d never even visited the riding she was running in.
But when Jack Layton’s NDP wave swept Quebec, Brosseau won — securing nearly 40% of the vote and ousting a seasoned Bloc Québécois MP. The message from voters was loud and clear: they were voting for something new, even if it came from an unexpected place.
“I never doubted my obligation to represent them,” Brosseau told Chatelaine in 2015. “I wanted their votes to matter, and I wanted to do them justice.”
From Novice to NDP Leader in the House
What began as an accidental win quickly turned into a serious career.
Fluent in French within months (thanks to intensive tutoring), Brosseau proved herself on Parliament Hill and in her riding. By 30, she was vice-chair of the NDP caucus, official critic for agriculture and agrifood, and later appointed House Leader under Jagmeet Singh.
She was re-elected in 2015 with an even larger margin but lost her seat in 2019 and narrowly again in 2021.
“Elbowgate” and an Unexpected Media Storm
In 2016, Brosseau became an unexpected focal point of controversy when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau elbowed her in the chest during a heated moment in the House of Commons.
While attempting to move a colleague past a group of MPs, Trudeau accidentally struck Brosseau, triggering an outcry later dubbed “Elbowgate.”
“In my haste, I did not pay attention to my surroundings,” Trudeau said in an apology. Brosseau accepted, though the incident became a viral flashpoint in political media.
A Life Beyond Politics — And A Comeback Rooted in Community
Since leaving Parliament, Brosseau has largely stayed out of the spotlight. She spent the last few years working on her partner’s farm in Yamachiche, Quebec, reconnecting with rural life and the challenges of agriculture — an issue she once championed on the Hill.
She also inspired the 2023 French-language TV drama La Candidate, where a fictional single mother stumbles into politics and wins against the odds — sound familiar?
Why She’s Running Again — And Why It Matters Now
In her return to the political fray, Brosseau says the decision was driven by urgency, not nostalgia.
“I couldn’t sit on my hands,” she said in a statement. “I know what producers and businesses in the region are going through. It’s important to defend them and improve their quality of life.”
Her re-entry comes as Jagmeet Singh’s NDP tries to reignite its presence in Quebec, a province once pivotal to its success.
Full Circle: Can Brosseau Win Back the Riding?
Once mocked for being a symbol of protest voting, Brosseau is now a seasoned candidate with rural credibility, a track record on agriculture, and deep knowledge of the region.
And in a political climate where voter frustration and economic uncertainty are surging, her grassroots appeal and resilience may resonate more now than ever.
Election day is April 28 — and all eyes will be on whether the comeback kid of 2011 can make her way back to Ottawa.
