Skelly takes Flamborough-Glanbrook, while NDP sweep rest of Hamilton

As Doug Ford's PCs are set to form a majority government, Hamilton will have just one representative in the governing caucus.

City councillor Donna Skelly took  Flamborough—Glanbrook and is likely to be the only Conservative elected in the city as the NDP surge gave it a sweep across the other four city ridings.

In Hamilton West — Ancaster— Dundas, NDP candidate Sandy Shaw unseated long time Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin. McMeekin, in fact was a distant third, with PC candidate Ben Levitt running in second place.

When a tsunami hits, it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not, you tend to drown in the flood.- Ted McMeekin

The two ridings show how the main threads of the campaign played out locally, with the strong PC and NDP campaigns delivering results at the expense of Liberals.

In Burlington, PC Jane McKenna reclaimed the riding currently held by Liberal Eleanor McMahon.

NDP incumbents in Hamilton Mountain and Hamilton East, Monique Taylor and Paul Miller, were also re-elected. NDP leader Andrea Horwath is the projected winner in her Hamilton Centre riding.

Shaw said the win "feels awesome."

She had family and friends around her and her parents called to say they're proud.

'What Andrea and the New Democrats were offering ... for people was resonating really well in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas and I guess the results show that."

She paid tribute to the long service of the man she defeated, who visited her to congratulate her. 

"The legacy of what he's brought to our community won't be forgotten. I take it with the greatest humility and honour that I am carrying on from his work."

McMeekin, who has represented the area since 2000, arrived to big cheers from a small group of supporters at a local restaurant. He told them to focus on the 18 years they've had together. He said PC majority was a wave they got caught up in.

There was a wave

"I think there was a wave ... when a tsunami hits, it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not, you tend to drown in the flood. I think there was a tsunami."

PC candidate Ben Levitt was running his first campaign. "I'm a little disappointed by the result, locally. We tried really hard but we came up a little bit short."

While he didn't win he says, overall, "I think it's a bright night for the province. I think the next 4 years will be much better than the last 15."

In her victory speech, Skelly thanked her team and said: "Tonight marks the beginning of change. Tomorrow voters will wake to a new beginning, an era where the government represents you, the taxpayer."

She works hard and because of that, she'll serve her constituents well.- John Demik 

In that race, Skelly was up against a fellow city councillor, Judi Partridge. But it was NDP candidate Melissa McGlashen who was Skelly's closest challenger. Partridge got just 15 per cent of the vote.

Supporter John Demik was happy to have Skelly representing the riding at QP:

"She recognizes our demographic. She's a hard worker. She works hard and because of that, she'll serve her constituents well."

Added by fellow supporter Wally Boonstra "And she'll cut waste, and there's a lot of that."

Skelly has been an opponent of the city's LRT project and her election could spell trouble for it as those on council lukewarm to it might see an opening to pull the plug on it.

Horwath took a moment during her speech to thank the city for supporting her. She won handily in her riding with 65 per cent of the vote.

"It's the privilege of my life to represent this great city,"  she said.

Other results from the broader region:

Long-time Liberal Jim Bradley has represented St. Catharines since 1977 — but the Liberal collapse didn't spare him. He lost his long-time seat to NDP candidate, Jennie Stevens. 

Toby Barrett, PC, has been re-elected in Haldimand-Norfolk. He was first elected in 1995. 

Sam Oosterhoff, PC, has been re-elected in Niagara West.
 

 Live blog: recap

Our live blog captured every moment along the way with contributions from expert panelists including former Hamilton city councillor and Conservative MPP Brad Clark, Sarah Jama, a volunteer in NDP leader Andrea Horwath's campaign, Peter Graefe, professor of political science at McMaster University and Hamilton high school student Lachlan Holmes. 

On mobile? Follow along here.

The panelists

Sarah Jama 

Sarah Jama is a volunteer contact coordinator for Andrea Horwath's campaign in Hamilton Centre, co-founder of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario and holds a Social Sciences degree from McMaster University. 

Brad Clark ​

Brad Clark is a former Hamilton city councillor and MPP in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. He served as Minister of Transportation and later as Minister of Labour. 

"Given that polls have shown upwards of 80% of voters believe that it is time for change, the defeat of the liberal government appears to be a sure bet. But, who will voters chose to govern? Will there be any Liberal seats left in the province? Will Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne resign on election night? What happens to the local liberal stalwart, Ted McMeekin? If the NDP does not form government, will Andrea Horwath continue to lead the NDP? What will the PCs do if Doug Ford does not form government? Will there be yet another leadership review?

These are all cliff hanging political questions, stay tuned."

Peter Graefe 

Peter Graefe is a political scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton.

"We have swung from one majority government to another, even as the governing party regularly gets fewer than two votes in five. The current government received 38.7% in 2014. The Conservatives got 35.5% of the votes in 2014 in a "disastrous" campaign. This time, they are doing only marginally better, but may well win a strong majority government. We have had a couple of weeks where the two leading parties being tied in the opinion polls, but with a Conservative majority as a strong possibility given how the parties concentrate their votes. Is this the election where Ontarians ask why they embrace their existing electoral system, with all the instability it creates as small electoral shifts create major shifts in government philosophy?"

Lachlan Holmes  

Lachlan Holmes, 15, is a student at Westdale Secondary school and the founder of Hamilton Forward, a group advocating for increased density and smart development in Hamilton. 

"I'm pretty concerned about how laissez faire we've got with platforms and real policy. Doug Ford doesn't have a platform. It's very basic platform and it's not costed. I hope more people my age are paying attention and learning to think about the issues in a critical sense. The decisions made today will effect me for the next 60, 70. 80 years."