NDP surge will hit provincial election: Harris

A left-wing wave that is sending two St. John's New Democrats to Ottawa could keep rolling into the Newfoundland and Labrador election this fall, a re-elected MP says.

"Something that I believe firmly is that most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians actually have the same values and the same idea of what government should be about as New Democrats,"St. John's East MP Jack Harris told CBC News.

"They've just had a history of voting for other parties."

For the first time, voters in St. John's South-Mount Pearlelected an NDP candidate, with journalist Ryan Cleary among dozens of rookie MPs in the party's federal caucus.

Cleary, who easily defeated Liberal incumbent Siobhan Coady, said there are implications in Monday night's results.

"I think the broader message here is people are tired of the same old politics. Liberal, Tory, same old story," he told CBC News.

Provincial NDP Leader Lorraine Michael holds the party's only seat in the 48-member legislature. The party has never been able to hold more than two seats at any one time.

Harris said the federal showing will attract strong candidates to the provincial campaign.

Under fixed-date legislation, the provincial election will be held Oct. 11.