In an unprecedented shift, the NDP have formed the next government in Alberta.
Within 40 minutes of the polls closing, major media outlets declared that Rachel Notley’s NDP would be leading the province.
As of presstime for The Drumheller Mail, the NDP were leading in 33 ridings with 21 elected, and 40 per cent of the popular vote.
While Emily Shannon ,NDP candidate for Drumheller-Stettler, was not successful in gaining a seat, for her it was a positive night. As of presstime, she was trailing by incumbent Rick Strankman and PC Jack Hayden. In 2012, the NDP had only 2.74 per cent of the vote in Drumheller. As of presstime the NDP were hovering in the area of 17 per cent of the popular vote in the riding.
“For the province this will be a very necessary change that we needed to see, to put a government that is responsible back to the people,” Shannon told The Mail from her campaign celebration at the Old Grouch’s Restaurant.
In Drumheller- Stettler Rick Strankman retained his seat. As of presstime, he has captured about 46 percent of the popular vote.
He feels the shift to the NDP had to do with the floor crossing of the Wildrose members to the PC party last December.
“The floor crossing may have had a greater effect than what we thought in reducing trust of politicians,” he said. “I don’t think it is the policy, but it is trust in the politician associated with the Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose.”
In the Strathmore-Brooks riding, Derek Fildebrandt of the Wildrose was leading at presstime with 53 per cent of the popular vote.
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills went Wildrose green as Nathan Cooper was leading with 51 per cent of the popular vote at presstime.