Liberals sweep New Brunswick's 10 ridings

The Liberals have swept New Brunswick in Monday night's election, taking all 10 of the province's ridings.

The Liberals have knocked off several Conservative incumbents, including two cabinet ministers, and took back a riding that had been held by the NDP for nearly 20 years.

The province's strong showing foretold what would later unfold across the country as Justin Trudeau's Liberals won a majority government.

The Liberals won 51.4 per cent of the vote in the federal election, followed by 25.5 per cent for the Conservatives and 18.3 per cent for the NDP.

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Liberal Dominic LeBlanc was the first New Brunswick MP declared elected on Monday night, easily holding his riding of Beausejour with 68.7 per cent of the vote.

LeBlanc said the massive gains made by the Liberals are a credit to Justin Trudeau's popularity in the province.

"Our leader, Justin Trudeau is immensely popular in Atlantic Canada. He has always had an ability to reach Atlantic Canadians at a very emotional level, he has spent a lot of time here, he is well known here," LeBlanc said.

"We also had very good candidates nominated here for a number of months."

When the 78-day campaign started, the Conservatives held eight ridings, while the Liberals and NDP each held one seat.

The Liberals saw their vote collapse in several ridings during the 2011 election. That turned around in Monday's election as the party recaptured the ridings they lost in 2011.

Liberal René Arseneault was elected in Madawaska-Restigouche, defeating Conservative cabinet minister Bernard Valcourt.

Valcourt, who served as the aboriginal affairs minister, dropped to third place, behind the NDP's Rosaire L'Italien.

When asked by reporters what happened to the Conservatives, Valcourt said 10 years in government caught up to the party.

"It's not surprising voters would make that choice," Valcourt said.

"I can't perform an autopsy of the campaign at this point."

In Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, Liberal Ginette Petitpas Taylor defeated Conservative Robert Goguen. Goguen was elected in 2011 in a tight three-way race in the riding.

Robert Goguen said he thought his electoral loss could be chalked up to a movement for change.

He said it was also possible that some people voted strategically.

Liberal Matt DeCourcey was elected in Fredericton, defeating Conservative Keith Ashfield. 

Ashfield had been a Conservative cabinet minister before giving up his position because of health issues.

"I'm disappointed," Ashfield said.

"I'm surprised. The tides have changed. Maybe retirement is next."

The Liberals managed to win in the northeastern riding of Acadie-Bathurst.

Liberal Serge Cormier defeated the NDP's Jason Godin, who was trying to hold the riding after the retirement of long-time NDP MP Yvon Godin.

Acadie-Bathurst was the only NDP seat in the province.

Liberal Pat Finnigan was elected in Miramichi-Grand Lake, defeating incumbent Conservative Tilly O'Neill-Gordon.

In Saint John-Rothesay, Liberal candidate Wayne Long also defeated the incumbent Conservative, Rodney Weston.

The Liberals also broke into Conservative strongholds.

Liberal T.J. Harvey took Tobique-Mactaquac, Liberal Karen Ludwig defeated Conservative John Williamson in New Brunswick Southwest, and in Fundy Royal, Liberal Alaina Lockhart defeated long-time Conservative incumbent, Rob Moore.

Moore was the minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The outgoing Conservative MP said he could sense there was a "bit of a shift in the last week."