Windsor-Essex holds orange in Ontario election, but PCs came close
Incumbents held their spots in this election, but Essex was a close race
It was an unpredictable provincial election campaign, but the NDP incumbents of Windsor and Essex County managed to hold their seats. Although, one riding held a particularly close race.
Provincially, Ontario's Progressive Conservatives led by Doug Ford secured a majority government, ending nearly 15 years of Liberal power in the province.
Locally, the NDP held strong. Here's a look at how the night went:
Windsor West and Windsor-Tecumseh
There was excitement and disappointment in the room of supporters in the ridings in Windsor West and Windsor-Tecumseh, where NDP incumbents Lisa Gretzky and Percy Hatfield held a shared celebration.
CBC News projected both Gretzky and Hatfield have held on to their seats in southwestern Ontario. They're happy with the results and that they will form the official opposition. But they wish they had secured enough seats to form government.
Here’s Windsor West NDP Lisa Gretzky’s victory speech (she’s the projected winner) <a href="https://t.co/TQw7BSq0S7">https://t.co/TQw7BSq0S7</a>
—@JasonViauCBCBoth candidates believe they don't need a new leader to take them to the next level and say the NDP's Andrea Horwath can remain at the helm for as long as she wants.
Meanwhile, supporters are worried about how Ontario will change under a PC majority government. Some called him 'Donald Trump Jr.', while other said he's better than Kathleen Wynne.
And NDP Windsor-Tecumseh Percy Hatfield’s victory speed (he’s projected winner) <a href="https://t.co/cPHT1td44P">https://t.co/cPHT1td44P</a>
—@JasonViauCBCWindsor West NDP MP Brian Masse was also at the venue to support his peers. He gave some insights into what's in store for the province under a PC regime.
WATCH: Here’s how Windsor West NDP MP <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianMasseMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianMasseMP</a> believes the relationship between Ont. and the feds will change under a projected PC gov. <a href="https://t.co/Olos0ybCot">pic.twitter.com/Olos0ybCot</a>
—@JasonViauCBCEssex
It was a bitter sweet victory for NDP incumbent Taras Natyshak as CBC projects him as the NDP MPP in the Essex riding. He was looking for a better outcome provincially.
"The results are a little bit disappointing but we will hold this government accountable for the promises that they made," said Natyshak, standing at the legion in Belle River in front of friends and family.
But it was a tight race for Natyshak, as his PC opponent Chris Lewis came close to unseating him.
Natyshak said Ontario is in for a "new reality" with a Doug Ford government because he believes Ford has not shown the public where the money will be going.
This is CBC projected winner NDP Taras Natyshak’s son Drake. He says “I’m just proud of him, all the hard work he has done has paid off” <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCWindsor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCWindsor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WdrVotes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WdrVotes</a> <a href="https://t.co/3R6ItltQOm">pic.twitter.com/3R6ItltQOm</a>
—@megdrobertsThis is the third term in a row for Natyshak in Essex.
Rebecca Laplant, an NDP supporter, cheered Natyshak on as he walked through the front doors. She said she couldn't be happier because he's the right person for the job.
"He's so genuine and he has a true passion for Windsor-Essex... He is going to fight.