While a tight three-way race was expected in the riding of Sherbrooke in Quebec's Eastern Townships, the NDP was able to hold onto the seat by a margin of more than 3,000 votes and 37 per cent support.

Voters chose to keep incumbent Pierre-Luc Dusseault. He became a poster child for the 2011 Orange Wave when the Université de Sherbrooke student became the youngest MP in Canadian history. The riding was held by the Bloc Québécois for a decade before Dusseault was elected.

Since his 2011 victory, Dusseault developed a reputation for being a strong voice for his community.

The Liberals came in second. The party's candidate, Tom Allen, was active in Sherbrooke for decades, most notably as the president of the executive committee for the Canadian summer games in 2013.

Former journalist Caroline Bouchard, the Bloc Québécois' candidate, finished third with 21 per cent support, while Conservative candidate Marc Dauphin, who worked for the Canadian Forces as an emergency doctor before teaching medicine in Quebec universities, came in fourth.

After early results came in showing the Liberals would form a government, Sherbrooke resident Fabrice Lemieux said he was disappointed by the result.

He says he supported the NDP because of their positions on environment and economic issues.

"It seems we're afraid to try a third way. It's all top often one or the other. Not a new way," he said.