Essex Conservative Jeff Watson, left, NDP Tracey Ramsey and Liberal Audrey Festeryga, right, speak at a debate, September 30, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)Essex Conservative Jeff Watson, left, NDP Tracey Ramsey and Liberal Audrey Festeryga, right, speak at a debate, September 30, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Windsor

Essex Is Riding To Watch

The riding of Essex will be the one to watch as we edge closer to Election Day.

That's according to University of Windsor political science professor Cheryl Collier.

She says early poll numbers show a tight race between Conservative Jeff Watson and NDP Tracey Ramsey.

"It would be interesting to see if that riding turns to the NDP or not or (if) Jeff Watson can hang onto it," Collier says. "It'll say a lot I think as a barometer about how the party, the Conservative party, is being viewed in areas that have struggled."

Jeff Watson has held onto the Essex seat since 2004.

"He hasn't really held very high-profile positions within the government," Collier says. "To be fair to him, he's competing with a lot of potential ministers and MPs in Ontario who are representing larger population ridings."

Another factor at play, she says, is the fact that the NDP hold all three area seats provincially. This is an indicator that the NDP will be Watson's biggest competition.

Liberal Audrey Festeryga is also running in Essex.

Collier also says it'll also be interesting to see if Conservative Jo-Anne Gignac can take hold of Windsor-Tecumseh, which has been held by retiring NDP MP Joe Comartin for 15 years.

She says name recognizing from Windsor City Council won't win her the seat on its own. Collier points to when Kingsville mayor Nelson Santos ran in the 2011 federal election and lost.

Read More Local Stories