Alberta's Progressive Conservatives suffered a political blow Tuesday night, losing a byelection in the affluent Calgary riding once held by former premier Ralph Klein.

In one of two byelections, Liberal candidate Craig Cheffins defeated Progressive Conservative rival Brian Heninger in the central Calgary seat that has been in Tory hands since it was created in 1971. Klein was first elected in the riding in 1989.

Tory Jack Hayden was able to win the rural riding of Drumheller-Stettler in another byelection, as voters picked a new MLA to replace former deputy premier Shirley McClellan.

Observers said the contest in Calgary-Elbow was the first real test of the popularity of Premier Ed Stelmach's government since critics accused it of not taking care of the city's needs.

Stelmach was chosen as party leader in December after Klein retired, taking the premier's title without a provincial election.

In the 2004 election, Klein held on to the riding by just over 2,000 votes from the nearest candidate, a Liberal.

Cheffins had said residents in Calgary-Elbow were telling him their needs aren't being heard by Stelmach's government.

In a flyer that hit city mailboxes last week, the premier countered that $5 billion was set aside for Calgary in this year's budget. And on Friday, Stelmach re-announced his government's commitment to building a new hospital in south Calgary.

With files from the Canadian Press