NDP candidate Steve Morissette has won the Kootenay-Monashee Riding in the B.C. Provincial Election.
With all of the regular ballot boxes counted Morissette was leading by 2453 votes with 52 per cent of total vote.
The riding has been an NDP stronghold for almost 20 years with Katrine Conroy representing the area in the B.C. Legislature since 2005. Conroy won approximately 60 per cent of the riding's votes in each of those elections.
From his election night headquarters Morissette told Castlegar News, "This is a fantastic win. I learned from this that candidates don't win elections, it is the team and we had such an amazing team."
Morissette also thanked his competitors Glen Byle (Conservative) and Donovan Cavers (Green) for stepping up to run in the election.
"They are two good people and going forward I really want to work with everyone. I don't believe in fighting and battling, I believe in finding common ground and moving forward."
Byle received 39 per cent of the votes and Cavers received nine per cent.
Conservative support in the riding jumped drastically in this election from nine per cent in 2020 to 39 per cent.
Byle was encouraged by the growth in support for his party, even though he wasn't elected.
"From what I've heard campaigning many people who would normally vote NDP have seen specific NDP policies create negative effects in their lives, and the Conservative platform offers the solution they are looking for to that specific issue they are concerned about," said Byle in a post-election statement to Castlegar News.
Election results won’t be finalized until after Oct. 26-28, when the final counting of votes is scheduled.
There are 32,241 registered voters in the Kootenay-Monashee Riding and about 3.55 million in the province.
According to Elections BC, 6,768 Kootenay-Monashee residents voted during the advance voting phase. That is approximately 21 per cent of the riding’s registered voters.
