As an atmospheric river drenched B.C.'s south coast, the votes poured in for the NDP’s Lana Popham, who has been re-elected to the Saanich South riding.
Preliminary results show Popham received 14,587 votes out of 29,486 counted votes (49.5 per cent). Adam Kubel of the B.C. Conservatives came in second with 9,652 votes, while B.C. Green's Ned Taylor followed with 5,248 votes. All 26 polls have reported.
Elected first in 2009 in the Saanich South riding, the win is Popham’s fifth.
“I'm very eager to get back to work,” said Popham, who added she was grateful to her campaign team for their work, and the people of Saanich South for choosing to re-elect her.
“During an election it's hard to put the stuff you've been working on in your constituency office aside and put people on hold for 28 days,” she said. “And now I know that I can get back and start helping people again – that’s really what my priority is.”
Noting the strong performance of her two opponents, Conservative’s Kubel and the Green’s Taylor, Popham says she has reached out to both to invite them to find a way to work together on issues affecting the riding.
“These are two people who put their names forward,” said Popham. “They also had votes behind them from the constituents of Saanich South. So I always put the offer out.”
The NDP currently holds a slim lead in the battle for control of the B.C. Legislature, with the NDP leading in 46 ridings, B.C. Conservatives with 45 and B.C. Green holding the lead in two seats. With the NDP leading in 46 ridings it would need the support of the two Green MLAs to form government.
“I think it's too close to tell right now,” said Popham. “There’s a lot of real nail-biters that are still in that mix, so I don't know what will happen. It feels a little bit like 2017 to me, so we're gonna have to wait and see.”
Offering his congratulations to Popham was Conservative's Kubel, who came second with 32.73 per cent of the vote. The first-time candidate also thanked Popham for her ongoing service to Saanich South, and applauded the tremendous effort of Green's Taylor.
"I'm very proud of what my team and I were able to accomplish in this election, and very thankful to Saanich South for showing tremendous support for a political newcomer," said Kubel. "The numbers show there is a desire for change in this community and in this province, and I know all candidates felt that on the doorsteps. I'm grateful to apply this experience in future campaigns, to be a part of a historic election, and to see a needed change in the political landscape of British Columbia."
As the dust settles on his campaign efforts, Kubel is now focusing all his attention on his family, who welcomed a bundle of joy to the fold in October.
"I would also like to welcome my youngest son, who was born during this campaign," said the now father of two. "And give special thanks to my wife Sarah and my family for their unwavering love and support."
While disappointed by his third-place finish in the riding, the Green’s Taylor said he has given the campaign his all, and was thankful for the support he had received from the community and his team.
“I’m just really grateful for all of the time, work and passion put into this campaign by all of our volunteers,” he said. “I know that we ran a really good campaign, and I'm proud of that … I’m just really grateful for the opportunity, it’s been a real honour to run in this election for a community that I've grown up in and I’m passionate about.”
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau failed to win a seat in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding, losing to NDP’s Grace Lore.
“It’s really disappointing for our exceptional leader to lose her voice in the legislature,” said Taylor. “But I know that she's got her head held high. She's done such an incredible job over the past number of years.”
“I know that she's going to continue to do lots of incredible work,” he added. “And it's just an honour to run with her in this campaign.”
Despite his loss, the only way is up for Taylor, literally, as he now plans to continue his pursuit of a career in aviation, returning to flight training.
“I'm looking forward to doing other work in the community,” he added.
