The NDP clinched its third consecutive MLA seat in Oak Bay-Gordon Head with a decisive win Saturday night.

Preliminary results show the B.C. NDP's Diana Gibson with 13,328 votes, followed by Green candidate Lisa Gunderson with 8,107 votes and B.C. Conservative Stephen Andrew with 7,843 votes, with 26 of 28 polls reporting.

Amid a packed room shouting and applauding several successful south Island NDP candidates on election night, Gibson thanked the volunteers who came out in the pouring rain B次元官网网址渄ropping soggy flyersB次元官网网址� knocking on doors to the last minute.

B次元官网网址淲hat resonated at the doors and that shows up in the numbers, Oak Bay-Gordon Head wants to see the NDP continue progress with health care, housing, education, environment. All these areas and really the values that we brought were the values the community wants to see reflected in government,B次元官网网址� Gibson told the Saanich B次元官网网址, while celebrating with others Saturday night.

B次元官网网址淩epresenting this riding as MLA is going to be about really galvanizing the movement we've built and continuing to engage with the community and representing them.B次元官网网址�

With a plan to celebrate as the final numbers rolled in, Gibson wouldnB次元官网网址檛 delve into what the future with the NDP at the helm might look like, but emphasized her role in it.

B次元官网网址淚 can talk to you about the job of MLA which I'm really excited about doing and really committed to staying really boots on the ground and doing something. I'm excited about that job. It's a combination of everything I've done in my life,B次元官网网址� Gibson said.

B次元官网网址淭here was just this incredible groundswell of support that was part of this campaign, a real momentum, so many people coming out and as we got closer to the election saying, B次元官网网址榃hat can I do?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd really, that was the thing where those numbers aren't a big surprise because we just had so many people coming forward saying there's a lot at stake.B次元官网网址�

While sad and disappointed finishing second in her riding and for party leader Sonia Furstenau who did not win in her riding, Gunderson said the party itself came away with a win.

The NDP currently holds a slim lead in the battle for control of the B.C. Legislature, with the NDP leading in 46 ridings, B.C. Conservatives with 45 and B.C. Green holding the lead in two seats. If those totals hold, the NDP would need the support of the two Green MLAs to form government.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 huge. It brings us to where we were in 2017. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to be holding the balance of responsibility once again,B次元官网网址� Gunderson said.

B次元官网网址淚 will be very interested to see the dynamics, what thatB次元官网网址檚 going to look like.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 also thrilled by the victory of new NDP MLA George Anderson, who was elected in Nanaimo-Lantzville. 

Anderson, new to provincial politics, served one term on Nanaimo city council. He told the Nanaimo B次元官网网址 Bulletin that it is meaningful to him to be the first Black elected official in the legislature in nearly 50 years. A sentiment Gunderson shares.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 massive,B次元官网网址� Gunderson agreed. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited for our communities.B次元官网网址�