B.C. Liberals take 10 ridings in southern Interior

The B.C. Liberals have taken 10 ridings in B.C.'s southern interior, while the NDP managed to take only four.

In Kelowna-Mission, B.C. Liberal Steve Thomson got more than 50 per cent of the popular vote.

In November,  Liberal Sindi Hawkins announced she would not be running again after a long battle with cancer.

B.C. New Democrat Tisha Kalmanovitch trailed with just under 30 per cent of the vote, followed by B.C. Conservative Mark Thompson with just over 10 per cent of the vote and the Green party's Crystal Waraich with approximately eight per cent.

In Kootenay-East, Liberal Bill Bennett took over 50 per cent of the vote, while New Democrat Troy Sebastian followed with just under 35 per cent of the vote. Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni finished third with about 10 per cent and the Green party's Jennifer Tsuida trailed with just under four per cent.

In Cariboo-North, New Democrat Bob Simpson has been re-elected with about 50 per cent of the vote.

Liberal Bruce Ernst trailed closely behind with approximately 46 per cent, followed by the Green party's Douglas Gook with just under five per cent.

In 2005, Simpson defeated Liberal Steve Wallace by just 269 votes.

In Westside-Kelowna, Liberal Ben Stewart led the race with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

New Democrat Tish Lakes trailed with just under 30 per cent, followed by Conservative Peter Neville and the Green Party's Robin Andrew McKim  with under 10 per cent each.

In June 2008 long-time Liberal MLA Rick Thorpe announced he would not be running again.

In Boundary-Similkameen, Liberal John Slater took just under 40 per cent of the vote, with New Democrat Lakhvinder Jhaj trailing close behind with just under 35 per cent.

Conservative Joe Cardoso took just over 20 per cent of the vote.

This new riding was created in 2008 from a large chunk of a riding that went to the B.C. Liberals in 2005 and smaller parts of two other ridings that fell to the NDP. But in 2009, no incumbents were running from either of the main parties, leaving the race wide open with a full slate of new candidates.

In Fraser-Nicola, New Democrat incumbent and former cabinet minister Harry Lali took just under 50 per cent of the vote.

Liberal Ella Brown followed with just over 40 per cent, while Green Desiree Maher-Schley got just over six per cent of the vote.

In Kamloops-North Thompson, Liberal Terry Lake just under 50 per cent of the vote. New Democrat Doug Brown trailed with just under 45 per cent, and Green candidate April Snow polled just over five per cent.

In Cariboo-Chilcotin, which had been predicted to be a tight race, New Democrat Charlie Wyse squeaked ahead of Liberal Donna Barnett by just 22 votes.

Green Elli Taylor took just under five per cent of the vote.

In 2005, Wyse defeated Liberal Walt Cobb by just 114 votes.