Susan Holt leads Liberals to majority, Blaine Higgs loses seat

New Brunswickers have voted for change and helped make some history too.

Susan Holt led her Liberal team to a solid majority government Monday, bringing an end to six years of Progressive Conservative rule. Even Premier Blaine Higgs lost his seat in the red tide of change.

The final tally is 31 seats for the Liberals, 16 for theProgressive Conservatives and two for theGreens, includingGreen Party LeaderDavid Coon

Holt is the first woman to win the premier's job in NewBrunswick history.

"We're going to watch the bottom line and deliver fiscal responsibility while we invest in the services that you need, like health care and educationand an affordable place to call home," the premier-designate said after her victory.

When the results started to roll in within minutes of the polls closing, what was looking like a close race, according to opinion polls, soon became an obvious Liberal win.

By 9:15 p.m., Higgs took to the podium at his headquarters in Quispamsis to concede defeat.

He said it was "not the night we hoped for."

Higgs said he had already called Holt to congratulate her and "wish her every success."

His message tosuccessful PC candidates was to keep the party together while they rebuild. He said there were "so many things left undone on our path to fix the province."

Higgs later saidit was "extremely unlikely" that he would stay on as party leader.

Among the PC losses were five cabinet ministersJill Green in Fredericton North, Greg Turner in Moncton South, Ted Flemmingin Rothesay, Ernie Steeves in Moncton Northwest, andRjean Savoiein Miramichi Bay-Neguac.

Greens lose a seat

In Coon's election-night speech in Fredericton, he acknowledged the loss of Kevin Arseneauto Liberal Pat Finnigan.

He vowed to continue to build the party.

"And one thing's for sure. We know that Blaine Higgs is no longer the premier of this province," said Coon to great applause from the crowd.

In her speech, Holt said her party will focus on education, health careand affordable housing.

"We are going to lead with balance," she said.

WATCH | Holt says 'mama bear' will come out to protect her daughters when she becomes premier:

How Holt is preparing her daughters for the political spotlight

3 hours ago

Duration 2:49

After her victory in the New Brunswick election, Liberal Leader Susan Holt asked the news media to respect her family and three daughters.

Holt, 47, a mother of three young girls, said she had a message forthe public and the news media.

"My mama bear's going to come out," she said. "Please treat my children with care because they are sacrificing for NewBrunswick," she said.

Given the sagging popularity of the federal Liberal leader, Holt seemed to try to distance herself from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the campaign. Trudeau senthercongratulations on Monday night.

"We've got work ahead to build more homes, protect our official languages, and improve healthcare for New Brunswickers. I'm looking forward to working with you and your Liberal team to make it happen," he wrote on social media.

Big gains in big cities

The Liberals made huge gains in the three big cities of southern New Brunswick. The largest gain was in Saint John, where votes increased by 27 per cent for the Liberals, followed by Fredericton, which saw an increase of 23 per cent. Moncton saw votes increaseby 16 per cent.

From blue to red,Liberals won nearly all Saint John-area ridings.

Liberal candidate and former city councillorDavid Hickey won Saint John Harbour, whileDr. John Dornan, who won a wrongful dismissal case against the Higgs government,wonSaint John Portland-Simonds.

WATCH | New Brunswickers vote for change:

New Brunswick votes for change, Liberals will form majority government

3 hours ago

Duration 3:06

New Brunswick voted for change in Monday's provincial election, with the Liberals winning a majority government. Susan Holt will be the next premier, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the province.

Kate Elman Wilcott took Saint John West-Lancaster, while federal PC-turned-Liberal John Herronwon againstcontroversial candidateFaytene Grasseschi in Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins.

Higgs-governmentcabinetminister Glen Savoie was the only PC in the region to holdonto his seat in Saint John East.

This election also saw a record number of female MLAs elected 17 women won seats, compared to 14 in 2020, 11 in 2018, and only eight in 2014.

The final vote tally was 376,026a turnout of about 66per cent.In 2020, by comparison, 378,169 people voted in total, about 66 per cent of registered voters.

In 2020, the PCs won 27 seats, the Liberals 17, the Greens threeand the People's Alliance two.

Neither the People's Alliancenor the NDP got any seats this time around and both lost percentage points of the popular vote. The People's Alliance dropped from 9.2 per cent to 0.9 per cent. While still down from 2020, theNDPjumped ahead of the People's Alliance this time aroundwith 1.3 per cent. In 2020, the NDP received 1.7 per cent of the popular vote.

The Liberals received 48 per cent, the PCs 35 per cent, the Greens 14per cent.