NDP Joel Harden elected in Ottawa Centre

Incumbent Liberal and current Attorney General Yasir Naqvi defeated

Image | Joel Harden Ottawa Centre NDP Ontario Election 2018

Caption: Joel Harden, who currently works for the Canadian Federation of Students, is trying to take Ottawa Centre for the NDP. (Submitted)

NDP candidate Joel Harden has defeated incumbent Liberal and current Attorney General Yasir Naqvi in Ottawa Centre.
With all polls counted, Harden has 46.1 per cent of the vote. Naqvi, his closest competitor, is well behind with 32.8 per cent of the vote.
Colleen McCleery, a management consultant running for the Progressive Conservatives, finished in third place with 16 per cent of the vote.

Media Video | (not specified) : NDP candidate Joel Harden reacts to win

Caption: NDP candidate Joel Harden reacts to his win in Ottawa-Centre

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The Liberals have held Ottawa Centre since Bob Rae's NDP government was defeated in 1995, but with a strong history of New Democrat wins at the federal level and a high proportion of unionized employees, the party was hoping for an upset win.
Stretching over a wide swath of urban Ottawa, the riding is ethnically and economically diverse, including wealthy neighbourhoods, high-density rental housing, and commercial centres. The riding includes Westboro, Centretown, the Central Experimental Farm, Rideauview, Old Ottawa South and Old Ottawa East.

Media Video | (not specified) : Liberal Yasir Naqvi concedes defeat

Caption: Long-time Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi concedes defeat in Ottawa Centre.

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The other candidates in the riding were:
  • Cherie Wong, running for the Green Party.
  • Bruce A. Faulkner, for the Ontario Libertarian Party.
  • Marc Adornato, running for the None of the Above party.
  • James Sears, running for the CCP.
  • Stuart Ryan, running for the Communist party.