He has run for the leadership of the New Democratic Party 3 times, most recently, in 2003, when he finished third. He came close to winning in the 1995 race but was stopped by manouvering on the part of Svend Robinson who did not want to allow a moderate to the lead the party.
Nystrom has been one of the strongest advocates of proportional representation in Canada and believes the the NDP should follow the example of Tony Blair to grow popular support for this social democratic party.