Quebec Election 2026: Anne Latendresse Runs for Québec Solidaire at 65 Anne Latendresse, 65, runs for Québec solidaire in the Quebec election 2026. Older women remain underrepresented among candidates. Learn more. Anne Latendresse, a 65-year-old retired university professor and researcher, is running as a candidate for the left-wing party Québec solidaire in the Quebec election on October 5. She launched her campaign in the Maurice-Richard riding north of downtown Montreal, with her 26-year-old son serving as campaign manager. Quebec Election 2026: Older Women UnderrepresentedData from Élections Québec shows that women make up 42.6 per cent of all candidates in the provincial election. However, among candidates aged 60 and older, men outnumber women nearly two to one, with 104 men compared to 58 women.Valérie Caron, executive director of a non-profit group that promotes parity between women and men in politics, says there are several reasons for this gap. She notes that legislatures have only recently approached parity, so older women have had fewer role models to follow.According to Caron, it is possible that women aged 60 and older did not see themselves in political roles because role models were really limited. She also points out that women generally need to be recruited to run, raising questions about whether parties are approaching candidates in that age group.Ageism and Scrutiny in PoliticsSonia Bélanger, a Coalition Avenir Québec candidate and outgoing health minister, says ageism is an unfortunate reality in politics. She has observed it, though not directed at her personally, but toward colleagues.Bélanger decided to run in 2022 after a career mainly as a manager and administrator in the public health system. Now 65, she believes it was the right moment to run, with her children grown and her career at its peak. She says she feels in better shape than when she was 40.She also believes women still face more scrutiny than men, whether as managers or politicians. For example, if a woman speaks loudly during a debate, people say she is shouting; if she tries to assert herself, they say she is interrupting others. But that never happens with men, according to Bélanger.Path to Parity and Political RepresentationCaron’s group works with women to help develop the skills and confidence they need to run for office. She advocates for broader change, including a law that would require parties to select a certain percentage of female candidates, and pushes parties to name women in ridings considered winnable.In recent years, politicians of all stripes have faced a surge of online hate and threats. While that can deter some people from running, Caron says the main reason female politicians leave office is because they feel their skills are not being used to the fullest. Bélanger agrees this is an important motivation.Since being elected in 2022, Bélanger has served in several cabinet posts that use her expertise, including health, social services, and seniors and caregivers. She credits former premier François Legault’s choice to elevate women to top jobs, including current Premier Christine Fréchette, as part of the reason why 54 per cent of Coalition Avenir Québec’s candidates are women.Québec solidaire has an even higher percentage of female candidates at 59 per cent, and also has a woman, Ruba Ghazal, as co-spokesperson and choice for premier.Caron, Latendresse and Bélanger all believe it is important to have women of all ages in politics, and that older women have valuable expertise, experience and energy to share. Latendresse says she is happily spending 12 hours per day on her campaign, filling her days with debates, meet-and-greets, and canvassing by phone and door-to-door.