Seamus O'Regan takes Liberal nomination in St. John's South-Mount Pearl

Former television host Seamus O'Regan has officially stepped into the political ring, winning the right to run in the federal election that's expected next year. 

O'Regan was named Monday night as the Liberal candidate for St. John's South-Mount Pearl, in a preview of a riding to watch in the next federal election. 

The seat is currently held by New Democrat Ryan Cleary. 

O'Regan declared his intentions in August.

The only other Liberal to have expressed interest in the seat, realtor Jim Burton, dropped out as O'Regan stepped forward. 

The Liberal Party of Canada announced O'Regan as the candidate on Monday night on Twitter. 

O'Regan, who spent almost a decade as the host of CTV's Canada AM, has worked in political circles before, having worked early in his career as an assistant to former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Ed Roberts, and later, with former premier Brian Tobin. 

O'Regan left CTV in 2012, and has since done relief hosting shifts for VOCM in St. John's.