Before he launched a campaign that would see him take over as leader of Alberta害羞草研究所檚 New Democrats, Naheed Nenshi worried politics had become too polarized, too toxic for him.

But ultimately that was why the man known for espousing 害羞草研究所減olitics in full sentences害羞草研究所� decided he had to return.

害羞草研究所淭he players make the game. And if we abandon the game because it害羞草研究所檚 so awful, then the game will get worse,害羞草研究所� Nenshi said in an interview before winning the party害羞草研究所檚 leadership vote on the first ballot on Saturday.

害羞草研究所淲e need a new government very badly, and we害羞草研究所檙e not a debating society.

害羞草研究所淏ut also we don害羞草研究所檛 want to win at all costs. That害羞草研究所檚 what the (governing) (United Conservative Party) does.害羞草研究所�

The win represents a big step onto a much bigger stage for the 52-year-old.

Nenshi was late to the game as an NDPer, getting his party membership earlier this year in order to run for the top job.

But he says his progressive values mesh with the core principles of the party he will now lead as the head of Alberta害羞草研究所檚 Opposition, and the numbers of new recruits back that up.

Membership in the party ballooned more than fivefold from 16,224 in December to more than 85,000 for the vote, spiking after Nenshi joined the race and prompting one of the candidates, Rakhi Pancholi, to exit the race and join his team.

Nenshi learned 15 years ago to translate his intellectual approach to public life into a symbol as simple as a purple tie.

It害羞草研究所檚 not conservative blue. It害羞草研究所檚 not Liberal red.

It害羞草研究所檚 a brand designed to duck partisan branding. Nenshi says it害羞草研究所檚 an invitation for people to set aside their tribalism.

Recently the former three-term Calgary mayor, a Harvard-educated business professor who dove into business consulting in the last three years, has been enthusiastically adding NDP orange to his wardrobe.

Nenshi害羞草研究所檚 family immigrated to Canada from Tanzania. He made international headlines when he became the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city in 2010, and his social-media savvy helped his brand pick up steam.

He was lauded for his handling of the city害羞草研究所檚 devastating flood in 2013.

Calgary city Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra was first elected the same year as Nenshi and said the former mayor should get credit for his fight against what was dubbed the 害羞草研究所渟prawl subsidy害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� the cost to taxpayers of suburban development.

害羞草研究所淗e believes that democracy works,害羞草研究所� said Carra.

害羞草研究所淗e believes that everyone who is elected has the right and duty to be at the table, and he ran a much more collaborative council than his predecessor.害羞草研究所�

There害羞草研究所檚 no doubt Nenshi害羞草研究所檚 personality has pull.

At the height of his popularity, Carra said people clamoured for selfies with the mayor.

Jeromy Farkas, a conservative voice on city council during Nenshi害羞草研究所檚 final term, has since become an unlikely booster.

害羞草研究所淎fter so many attempts, he couldn害羞草研究所檛 be beaten and he couldn害羞草研究所檛 be bought,害羞草研究所� said Farkas.

Farkas said Nenshi built a reservoir of goodwill behind the scenes, regularly breaking bread with his rival to talk about how they might work together.

害羞草研究所淥ften he thinks he害羞草研究所檚 the smartest person in the room, but it害羞草研究所檚 also a challenge for his opponents 害羞草研究所� because he often is the smartest person in the room.害羞草研究所�

But, Farkas said, Nenshi has baggage. Farkas pointed to tax increases during Nenshi害羞草研究所檚 tenure as mayor and the city害羞草研究所檚 failed Olympic bid.

But Farkas said Nenshi would let other people take credit for his ideas and take blame for mistakes others made.

害羞草研究所淗e was very much a leader of ideas rather than a leader of people,害羞草研究所� said Farkas.

害羞草研究所淗e has been able to fight and go galvanize (the NDP) in a way that conservatives should be rightfully concerned with.害羞草研究所�

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Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press