Darlene Rotchford cruised to victory in Esquimalt-Colwood to maintain the B.C. NDP's hold on the riding
In the evening of Saturday, Oct. 19, Rotchford's win was announced at an NDP election event at Parkside Hotel as she managed to capture 14,456 votes, or 51.1 per cent of the vote.
John Wilson of the B.C. Conservative party came in second with 8,333 votes, with Camille Currie of the B.C. Greens taking 5,485 votes.
"[It feels] surreal still," Rotchford said at the event. "It was a lot of hard work. And you know, I'm really lucky to have so many amazing people who worked on this campaign with me and have followed me through this journey. And I'm appreciative to every single one of them and to every voter who came out and is willing to support me."
The riding has been an NDP stronghold since 2005, with Mitzi Dean taking the MLA seat in 2017. Dean won the 2020 election with 59 per cent of the vote, however, in September she announced she will not be running for the seat again.
Rotchford said she is sad to leave her seat as a council member for the Township of Esquimalt, but is happy to work with the township in a different capacity as she starts her journey on the provincial level.
B.C. Conservative John Wilson said though he was disappointed in losing the riding, he's optimistic for the future of the B.C. Conservative party.
"When we satrted this election, the NDP had over $8 million in their coffers and we had $200,000. All the candidates pretty much had to raise their own money for the Conservative Party, whereas the NDP candidates had money given to them by the NDP machine," said Wilson. "We were behind the eight-ball financially. That won't be the case next election."
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.
Black Press has reached out to Currie for comment.
