Susan Holt wins legislature seat in Liberal byelection sweep

"Are you ready for it?"

Quoting singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, N.B. Liberal Leader Susan Holt asked that question as she addressed a crowd of around 50 supporters at a Bathurst pub after being elected in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, securing her seat in the legislature.

Liberals also swept two other ridings where byelections were held Monday, with Richard Losier winning in Dieppe and Marco LeBlanc taking Restigouche-Chaleur.

In her speech to supporters, Holt said the riding welcomed her with "open doors and with open arms."

"You shared with me your hopes and your fears and your dreams, and I take that so seriously," said Holt.

"I can promise you today that I will honour everything you've shared with me and give you my best effort, my hardest work to sincerely represent your interests in the Legislative Assembly as the MLA for Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore."

She said her team will work to "bring New Brunswick into the future," mentioning better access to health care and daycare, a green economy and affordable housing.

When speaking with reporters after her speech, Holt said she was grateful people put their trust in her.

She said leading up to the byelection, she "did the work" and was out connecting with people every day to give them a chance to get to know her.

But she said although she felt optimistic going into it, she still had butterflies up until the eighth poll came in.

Holt was elected leader of the N.B. Liberal Party last August. Her new seat, in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint Isidore, was held by longtime Liberal MLA Denis Landry, who stepped down from provincial politics.

Green Party candidate Serge Brideau, a well-known musician and activist with the Acadian Society of New Brunswick, came second to Holt.

He said he thinks the Greens are gaining momentum across the province given the number of votes he received, compared to the Green Party support in the last election for his riding.

"We worked as hard as we could but democracy has the last word and that's what's important," he told reporters.

Green Party candidates came second in all three ridings on Monday night. The Progressive Conservatives did not field a candidate against Holt.

Holt's win brings the standings in the legislature to 29 seats for the Progressive Conservatives, 16 for the Liberals and three for the Greens, one Independent. This also makes her the leader of the official opposition.

Here's how the voting stacked up:

Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore

• Holt, Liberal — 2,343. 
• Serge Brideau, Green Party —1,411.
• Alex White, NDP — 227

Restigouche-Chaleur

• Marco LeBlanc, Liberal — 2,462
• Rachel Boudreau, Green Party — 1,541.
• Anne Bard-Lavigne, PC — 771.
• Alex Gagné, NDP — 95.

Dieppe

• Richard Losier, Liberal — 2,424 votes.
• Chantal Landry, Green Party — 651.
• Dean Leonard, PC — 298.
• Cyprien Okana, NDP — 96.