After Redford was forced out of politics in the spring of 2014 due to allegations of corruption, Smith's Wildrose party was initially the major beneficiary.
However, this momentum stalled when former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice became PC leader and premier.
Under Prentice, the PCs swept four by-elections in October.
Smith was dealt a second blow at the Wildrose annual general meeting, when an anti-discrimination resolution that she strongly supported was voted down while she was out of the room.

On December 17, 2014, Smith announced that she, deputy leader Rob Anderson, and seven other Wildrose MLAs were crossing the floor to join the PCs.
Smith had criticized two other Wildrose MLAs for defecting to the PCs a month earlier; she had publicly stated that "there'll be no more floor crossings."
It was later revealed, however, that Smith and Prentice had been in talks about a possible merger for several months.
Smith said that several conversations with Prentice revealed that they shared much common ground, particularly on fiscal issues.
Ultimately, she concluded that it made little sense for her to continue in opposition. "
If you’re going to be the official Opposition leader," she said, "you have to really want to take down the government and really take down the premier.
I don't want to take down this premier.
I want this premier to succeed."
Several weeks after Smith joined the Progressive Conservatives, in a Facebook post, she apologized for the anger caused by her move and for not consulting with Albertans before making the decision.
At the same time, she stood by her decision to "unify conservatives" in the province, and indicated that she intended to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in Highwood for the next election.

Smith was defeated in her bid for the PC nomination in Highwood by Okotoks Councillor Carrie Fischer on March 28, 2015.
Smith's defeat was attributed to her floor-crossing which angered many in her riding.
Fischer then lost to Wildrose candidate Wayne Anderson in the general election.

Since her retirement from provincial politics, Smith has joined Calgary radio station News Talk 770 as the afternoon show host.
After Redford was forced out of politics in the spring of 2014 due to allegations of corruption, Smith's Wildrose party was initially the major beneficiary. However, this momentum stalled when former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice became PC leader and premier. Under Prentice, the PCs swept four by-elections in October. Smith was dealt a second blow at the Wildrose annual general meeting, when an anti-discrimination resolution that she strongly supported was voted down while she was out of the room.
On December 17, 2014, Smith announced that she, deputy leader Rob Anderson, and seven other Wildrose MLAs were crossing the floor to join the PCs. Smith had criticized two other Wildrose MLAs for defecting to the PCs a month earlier; she had publicly stated that "there'll be no more floor crossings." It was later revealed, however, that Smith and Prentice had been in talks about a possible merger for several months. Smith said that several conversations with Prentice revealed that they shared much common ground, particularly on fiscal issues. Ultimately, she concluded that it made little sense for her to continue in opposition. "If you’re going to be the official Opposition leader," she said, "you have to really want to take down the government and really take down the premier. I don't want to take down this premier. I want this premier to succeed." Several weeks after Smith joined the Progressive Conservatives, in a Facebook post, she apologized for the anger caused by her move and for not consulting with Albertans before making the decision. At the same time, she stood by her decision to "unify conservatives" in the province, and indicated that she intended to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in Highwood for the next election.
Smith was defeated in her bid for the PC nomination in Highwood by Okotoks Councillor Carrie Fischer on March 28, 2015. Smith's defeat was attributed to her floor-crossing which angered many in her riding. Fischer then lost to Wildrose candidate Wayne Anderson in the general election.
Since her retirement from provincial politics, Smith has joined Calgary radio station News Talk 770 as the afternoon show host.
Danielle Smith