Hanson wins MLA spot by huge margin, UCP majority

UCP candidate David Hanson will be the Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA.

Hanson earned roughly 70 per cent of the vote with 15,626 votes out of most declared ridings. NDP candidate Kari Whan earned 2,985 votes and Alberta Party candidate Glenn Andersen earned 2176 before deadline Tuesday night.

Alberta Independence Party candidate David Garnett-Bennett earned 207 votes for deadline Tuesday.

Alberta Advatnage Party candidate David Inscho earned 199 votes and Independent Kacey Daniels earned 161 votes.

The UCP will form a majority government with  of the 87 seats in the Legislature.

This will be the Hanson’s second term as MLA.

Hanson was elected in 2015 in the Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills riding as a Wildrose MLA.

In 2017, the Wildrose and Progressive Conservatives formed the United Conservative Party, and led in the polls from the party’s origin.

Voters elected UCP candidate Garth Rowswell was selected as Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA with big results as well.

For full comment on winning the riding and what’s to come here’s David Hanson.

NDP candidate Kari Whan said: “I want to congratulate Dave Hanson on his victory tonight. While I am disappointed, I respect Albertans’ choice in this election.

“Our team ran a great campaign and I want to thank all of my volunteers and supporters who believed in me and helped me!

“I am very proud of Rachel Notley – both the government she provided the past four years and the campaign she ran…I was so proud to be part of her team.”

More to follow.