With his wife Kate by his side, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PC incumbent Monte McNaughton cruised to re-election Thursday night.
McNaughton won with 27,877 total votes over longtime Warwick Township mayor and former Lambton County Warden Todd Case (16,791) representing the Ontario New Democratic Party.
First elected in 2011, this will be McNaughton's third term as member of provincial parliament with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, but the first in which he's not a member of the official opposition.
"What an incredible night," McNaughton told supporters in his victory speech. "Finally, after several tries a strong, stable, Progressive Conservative majority government delivered to the people of Ontario. Let me just say first of all, there has never been a more humbling moment in my life. Not only humbled by the extent of what has happened tonight here in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, I consider the trust that you have placed in me sacred and I give you my solemn word that I will do my utmost to justify your faith."
Todd Case described the loss as bittersweet, saying he was disappointed but also proud of his team.
"It's the best result we've ever had here for an NDP candidate, so I'm proud of that," Case said.
Brian Everaert of the Trillium Party (555), Brad Greulich of the Libertarian Party (355), Mike Radan of the Liberal Party (3,138) and Anthony Li of the Green Party (1,655) were also on the ballot in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
The riding has a population of 105,335 and includes the municipalities of Brooke-Alvinston, Lambton Shores, North Middlesex, and Southwest Middlesex, the townships of Adelaide-Metcalfe, Dawn-Euphemia, Lucan Biddulph, Middlesex Centre, Strathroy-Caradoc, and Warwick, Chatham-Kent, and the Village of Newbury.
Residents of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex at PC candidate Monte McNaughton's election night celebration at the Mt Brydges Legion. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/Dlc9ZXJnP0
— CHOK News Sarnia (@BlackburnSarnia) June 8, 2018
