Eastern Townships turns the page on decades of Liberal rule

A region dominated by the Quebec Liberal Partyfor three decades hasturned itsbackon tradition, ushering in the Coalition Avenir Qubec in five out of the region's six ridings.

Voters in Sherbrooke were the only ones to stray from the pack, electing QubecSolidaire candidate Christine Labrie.

Brome-Missisquoi has chosen the CAQ's Isabelle Charest, an Olympic speedskater,to replace Liberal veteran Pierre Paradis, who's held the riding since 1980

Paradisdid not run in this election, after he was ousted from the Liberal caucus in2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct.He was never charged.

The Liberals have also lostRichmond, a riding represented bya member of the Vallires familysince 1981, where the CAQ'sAndr Bachandhas secured hisseat.

Bachand was the Conservative MP for Arthabaska-Richmondriding from 1997 to 2004 and was also mayor of Asbestos.

TheCAQalso pulled off the first non-Liberal win in Mgantic since 1976,with its candidateFranoisJacques, a funeral home owner and municipal councillor inLac-Mgantic.

In Orford, where the Liberals had beenhoping to replace longstanding MNAPierre Reid with their new candidate Guy Madore, the CAQ'sGilles Blangerwon by nearly 4,000 votes.Blangerisan engineer and former owner and president of the Owl's Head ski resort.

In Saint-Franois, the CAQ'sGeneviveHbert, a business owner, won by nearly the same margin overLiberal candidate Charles Poulin.