Darrell Rankin is a communist politician in Canada. He has been involved in labour activism and the peace movement for several decades, and served as leader of the Communist Party of Canada - Ontario in the mid-1990s. Since 1996, he has been the leader of the Communist Party of Canada - Manitoba.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Rankin became involved in radical left politics through an early opposition to the Vietnam War. His grandparents had been active in the Communist Party, and Rankin became a member of this organization as well.

Rankin was a resident of Ottawa, Ontario from 1983 to 1995. While living in this city, he was a leading figure in the Canadian Peace Alliance and the Ottawa Disarmament Coalition .

He led the Communist Party of Canada - Ontario in the 1995 provincial election, and personally challenged NDP Premier Bob Rae in the riding of York South. Rankin's campaign focused on labour issues and full employment.

Rankin moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba later in 1995. The Communist Party of Canada - Manitoba had been without effective leadership for several years, and Rankin became the party's provincial organizer before the year was over. In 1996, he was elected its official leader. Rankin led the CPC-M through the elections of 1999 and 2003, and remains its leader today. In January 2004, he was challenged for the position by Paul Sidon; Rankin received 79% of delegate support, compared to 21% for Sidon.

A vocal opponent of the Iraq War, Rankin was responsible for organizing several peace marches in Winnipeg in 2003. He is a founding member of Peace Alliance Winnipeg , and occasionally writes articles for People's Voice , a left-wing magazine.

Rankin has campaigned for public office several times, although he has never come close to being elected. At the provincial and federal levels, he has been a candidate in:

• Calgary Southwest, Alberta, federal, 1993; 27 votes; winner: Preston Manning (Reform)
• York South, Ontario, provincial, 1995; 105 votes; winner: Bob Rae (NDP)
• Winnipeg Centre , Manitoba, federal, 1997; 108 votes; winner: Pat Martin (NDP)
• Burrows, Manitoba, provincial, 1999; 41 votes; winner: Doug Martindale (NDP)
• Winnipeg North Centre, Manitoba, federal, 2000; 525 votes; winner: Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP)
• Point Douglas, Manitoba, provincial, 2003; 82 votes; winner: George Hickes (NDP)
• Winnipeg North, Manitoba, federal, 2004; 111 votes; winner: Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP)