Three ridings were won by less than 50 votes in Canada’s federal election

A vote sign is posted as a person enters a polling station in the Vancouver East riding on federal election day in Vancouver., on Monday, April 28, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)

This article was updated on May 2 to reflect that new winners were declared in two ridings after each went through a vote validation process.

While some ridings were won by thousands of votes in Canada’s 2025 federal election, others are being decided by razor-thin margins.

As of Tuesday night, at least nine candidates had won their seats by fewer than 500 votes. Underscoring how much every vote can matter in tight races, three of these ridings were decided by fewer than 50 ballots.

Results could change as final votes are tallied. Several of these ridings may be subject to judicial recounts.

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Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, N.L. – 12 votes

In Canada’s tightest race, Anthony Germain held this Newfoundland riding for the Liberals with only 12 more votes than Conservative rival Jonathan Rowe. A judicial recount is expected.

Milton East-Halton Hills South, Ont. – 29 votes

Following a vote validation process, Liberal Kristina Tesser Derksen was declared the winner of this new Ontario riding after beating Conservative Parm Gill by just 29 votes. Gill previously served as a Conservative MP from 2011 to 2015 and was an Ontario MPP between 2018 and 2024. A judicial recount is likely.

Terrebonne, Que. – 44 votes

In another incredibly close contest, Bloc Quebecois incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné fended off Liberal challenger Tatiana Auguste by just 44 votes. The results came after a vote validation process. A judicial recount is expected.

Nunavut – 77 votes

NDP MP Lori Idlout barely held onto her Nunavut seat after beating Liberal candidate Kilikvak Kabloona by only 77 votes in a tight three-way race with the Conservatives. A judicial recount is likely.

Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore, Ont. – 233 votes

Conservative Kathy Borrelli was declared the winner in this Ontario riding after beating Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk by 233 votes.

Vancouver Kingsway, B.C. – 310 votes

The NDP clung to this Vancouver seat, with incumbent Don Davies beating Liberal challenger Amy Gill by 310 votes.

Brampton Centre, Ont. – 340 votes

Young political newcomer Amandeep Sodhi held this Ontario seat for the Liberals after winning over Conservative challenger Taran Chahal by 340 votes.

Kitchener Centre, Ont. – 358 votes

The Green Party went from two seats to one after losing this key Ontario riding, where Conservative challenger Kelly DeRidder beat incumbent Mike Morrice by 358 votes.

Miramichi-Grand Lake, N.B. – 394 votes

Mike Dawson, a former provincial MLA, held this N.B. seat for the Conservatives with 394 votes more than Liberal challenger Lisa Harris.

What’s a judicial recount?

A judicial recount can occur automatically in very tight races or after an application in cases of errors or irregularities.

Automatic judicial recounts must take place if the number of votes separating the first- and second-place candidates is less than one one-thousandth of the total number of votes that were cast in the riding.

For example, if 50,000 ballots were cast in a riding, a judicial recount would have to occur if the margin of victory was less than 50 votes.