Transcona residents are sticking with the New Democratic Party to represent them in the legislature.
Shannon Corbett will be the new MLA for the constituency.
Corbett arrived with Premier Wab Kinew at their election night headquarters Tuesday to cheers from party faithful.
“Ladies and gentlemen, people of all genders, I introduce to you the new MLA for Transcona, Shannon Corbett,” said Kinew.
The race was never in doubt from the start. According to Elections Manitoba, Corbett received 3,616 votes. Her closest rival, PC candidate Shawn Nason, garnered 1,569.
“The word that keeps coming to mind is grateful,” said Corbett. “I am so grateful for the support, so grateful for the trust, I’m so grateful for the people that came out and voted NDP.”
Corbett will now have to leave her day job as a vice principal at Transcona Collegiate.
“I will miss being with kids everyday, that will be a hard transition.” said Corbett. “But I’m super excited about the new transition for me.”
Nason, a former city councillor, was gracious and emotional in defeat. CTV News asked him if he’d consider another political run in the future.
“I just got my butt spanked,” said Nason. “It will be interesting to look at the numbers to see where things sat.”
The byelection was necessary following the passing of NDP MLA Nello Altomare, who was the minister of education and early childhood learning. Both Corbett and Kinew paid tribute to him.
“Let’s make noise for Nello one more time,” said Kinew.
Corbett previously worked with Altomare, including on both of his provincial election campaigns as his fundraising chair.
Since the riding was created in 1969, the NDP has had a stronghold on the area, losing only twice, once to the Liberals in 1988 and once to the Progressive Conservatives in 2016.
Elections Manitoba numbers show Liberal candidate Brad Boudreau received 217 votes, while Independent candidate Susan Auch got 208.
Voter turnout was 31.44 per cent.
