It was a big night for Liberals in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
Their candidate Marcus Powlowski held off strong showings from both Conservative candidate Linda Rydholm and the NDP’s Yuk-Sem Won to capture the seat held by the outgoing MP Don Rusnak.
Rusnak did not seek re-election so he could spend more time with his young family.
It was an extremely close race for the Conservative candidate Linda Rydholm. The former Thunder Bay city councillor ran second for most of the night and finished with almost 30 per cent of the vote.
That’s the best the Conservatives have done since the riding was established in 2004.
“So for a Conservative to do well, say get 30 per cent or more of the vote, come even second is very good in our riding,” says Rydholm.
NDP candidate Yuk-Sem Won also stayed closed in the running, finishing third with just under 29 per cent of the vote. But she says she had no regrets.
“I came from a place where, you know, people didn’t know my name and they didn’t know who I was, they didn’t know what I was bringing to the table, and I think I was really able to get that message out,” says Won.
Elsewhere in northwestern Ontario, Patty Hadju was returned as MP for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding with over 42 per cent of the vote.
In Kenora, incumbent Bob Nault was defeated by Conservative candidate Eric Melillo in what was a very close race from start to finish.
At one point during the night, one national network had declared NDP candidate Rudy Turtle the winner.
Turtle finished third.
