NDP win Nanaimo byelection

NANAIMO — The BC NDP is breathing a big sigh of relief tonight.

This after winning tonight’s crucial byelection in Nanaimo.

With 90 of 111 polls reporting, the NDP’s Sheila Malcolmson has just over 49 per cent of the vote, well ahead of her closest challenger, Liberal candidate Tony Harris, who has just over 40.5 per cent of the vote. Green candidate Michele Ney is well off the pace with just over seven per cent of the vote.

The byelection was a big test for the NDP considering a Liberal win would have given them 43 seats in the legislature, the same as the NDP/Green alliance.