The defeat of the provincial Green party leader. The election of its first two Conservative representatives in ages. And a razor-thin margin of victory where a judicial recount could reset the balance of power in British Columbia.
It was an interesting election night on Vancouver Island.
As of Monday morning, the election map showed the NDP maintaining its Island dominance, with 12 of 15 seats marked orange.
The Green party slipped from two seats to one, hanging on to its seat in Saanich North and the Islands, but losing its hold in the Cowichan Valley after the election boundaries were redrawn. Party leader and former Cowichan MLA Sonia Furstenau lost her bid for re-election after deciding to run in Victoria Beacon Hill.
And the blue wave that rolled through the province’s north did not avoid the north end of the Island, where the Conservatives snatched two seats from NDP incumbents.
But the most interesting riding proved to be Juan de Fuca-Malahat, where a 23-vote NDP victory make it one of two B.C. ridings that will be the subject of an automatic judicial recount.
With preliminary results showing a legislature divided between 46 NDP representatives, 45 Conservatives, and the Greens holding the balance of power with two seats, residents are awaiting official results and political deal-making to determine the nature of their next government.
Breaking down the individual Island races in more detail:
North Island: Conservative Party's Anna Kindy wins
Courtenay-Comox: Day has dawned if the preliminary ballots hold up
Mid-Island Pacific Rim: Incumbent NDP MLA Josie Osborne re-elected
Ladysmith-Oceanside: Higginson takes Ladysmith-Oceanside for B.C. NDP
Nanaimo-Lantzville: Anderson says presence as black elected official meaningful
Nanaimo- Gabriola Island: NDP's Malcolmson headed back to the legislature
Cowichan Valley: NDP emerges in tight race in redrawn former Green riding
Juan de Fuca Malahat: A mere 23 votes separate the NDP and the Conservative candidates
Langford-Highlands: 'Grateful' Parmar back after a tense evening
Esquimalt-Colwood: NDP newcomer Darlene Rotchford cruises to victory
Victoria Beacon Hill: Lore hangs on to seat, sends Green leader to the sidelines
Victoria Swan Lake: Nina Krieger wins for NDP by a comfortable margin
Oak Bay-Gordon Head: Gibson makes it a three times lucky riding for the NDP
Saanich South: Long-time NDP MLA Lana Popham wins re-election
Saanich North and the Islands: Botterell keeps Island's southeast corner Green
