PLP donors against Leroy Major’s nomination in Southern Shores

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is facing mounting pressure from some of its financial backers not to renominate Southern Shores MP Leroy Major as the party begins internal deliberations on its 2026 General Election slate.

As the PLP’s Candidates Committee prepares to meet this weekend to discuss potential nominees, several prominent donors have privately warned senior party officials that renominating Major could jeopardize the PLP’s hold on the Southern Shores seat—widely regarded as a swing constituency.

Major drew criticism in June when he publicly complained about the treatment of backbenchers within the PLP. In an interview with The Tribune, he said PLP backbench MPs had been “sidelined” and raised concerns about unequal access to resources and decision-making compared to Cabinet ministers.

“There’s got to be fair play to the backbenchers whose voices are not heard around the table,” Major was quoted as saying. “I think they use what is available to them for their advantage when it should be used for a national advantage.”

The comments reportedly triggered internal frustration, with some PLP officials accusing Major of airing party grievances in public and causing unnecessary embarrassment.

In an apparent attempt to stem the backlash, Major later issued a statement expressing full support for the PLP and clarifying that he remains committed to seeking another nomination under the party’s banner.

Despite the backtracking, discontent among donors appears to have deepened. Sources familiar with the situation say major financial supporters of the party are urging the leadership to consider a new candidate in Southern Shores, arguing that Major has failed to distinguish himself either as a strong voice in Parliament or as a visible representative in his community.