Provincially, the Liberals had a strong showing, holding onto six of seven seats. Jack Harris of the NDP defeated incumbent, Nick Whalen.

Gudie Hutchings in Long Range Mountains was among the first of the province’s six Liberal incumbents to be declared re-elected, capturing 47 per cent of the vote.

She thanked her campaign team for helping her in the district.

Hutchings says it’s a pretty big district – bigger than Switzerland. She wasn’t able to get into every single community during the campaign, but she did manage to get into 98 per cent, and that’s what makes the difference.

Liberal Scott Simms was re-elected by a wide margin in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame at 48 per cent of the vote.

He thanked the voters for returning him to the House of Commons for a sixth time. He also congratulated Conservative Alex Bracci on his campaign, saying Bracci knocked on more doors than he’s seen in any campaign.

Simms also offered a nod of appreciation to the NDP’s Noel Joe.

Simms says Joe is the first First Nations candidate in the riding since Confederation. He calls that a great sign of reconciliation and that Noel Joe is “not done.”

O’Regan Credits Campaign Team After Taking Time Off for Family

Liberal Seamus O’Regan had to take a bit of time off the campaign trail in St. John’s South-Mount Pearl to be with his father who faced a significant health challenge.

O’Regan thanked those who asked after his father as he knocked on doors in the district. He was happy to report that his dad was getting better.

He thanked his campaign team for keeping things going and the voters for returning him to the House of Commons.

O’Regan told reporters that winning a victory in St. John’s South-Mount Pearl “means the world.” He took 51 per cent of the vote.

He says it took a lot of hard work in the last sitting of the House of Commons and a lot of sweat, which he says doesn’t necessarily reflect in the polls.

Jack Harris arrives at NDP Camp, after claiming the seat of John’s East. @VOCMNEWS @590VOCM @Fred_Hutton #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/vZhQXhO0Gx

— Gerri Lynn Mackey (@GerriLynnMackey) October 22, 2019

Harris Takes NDP’s Only Seat in Atlantic Canada

Jack Harris was returned to the riding of St. John’s East following a four-year absence.

He defeated Liberal incumbent Nick Whalen by a wide margin taking 47 per cent of the vote over Whalen’s 33 per cent. He thanked the voters of St. John’s East for coming out to cast their ballots.

A subdued, but gracious Whalen conceded defeat to his campaign supporters last night just over an hour after the polls closed.

He told them he was proud of everything they had accomplished together in the last four years.

Whalen offered his congratulations to the NDP’s Jack Harris saying Harris was “a good guy” and said he’s going to be a “good MP.”

He said he looked forward to having Jack as his MP again.