The Reminder and the Canadian Press are projecting that NDP candidate Niki Ashton has won her fourth straight federal election.
With 41 of 155 polls reporting as of 10 p.m. local time, Ashton currently has 2,302 votes, far ahead of all other candidate. Cyara Bird, the Conservative candidate, is at 951 votes, while Liberal candidate Judy Klassen is third with 842 votes.
Ashton, originally from Thompson, was first elected in 2008, defeating then-incumbent Tina Keeper by more than 3,000 votes. Since then, Ashton has won in 2011 and 2015, running twice unsuccessfully for the NDP’s federal leadership.
Ashton is one of 25 NDP candidates either leading or likely to be elected in their ridings as of 10 p.m. Manitoba time. The Liberal Party leads the way and is assured to form government. The Liberals lead the way with 154 seats led or leading, while the Conservatives sit second, ahead in 119 ridings. The Bloc Quebecois sits third with 35 seats, while the Green Party has jumped up to three possible seat wins.
