SASK. ELECTION
Minister Beaudry-Mellor concedes to NDP's Aleana Young in Regina University
The NDP has knocked off a Saskatchewan Party cabinet minister and bumped up its likely seat count to 13, after Regina University incumbent Tina Beaudry-Mellor conceded defeat to challenger Aleana Young on Thursday.
© Provided by Leader Post
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party candidate Aleana Young speaks to media in Regina on Oct. 24, 2020. The next day, she gave birth to her first child.
Young, who gave birth to a daughter on Sunday, said she always knew the race would be close and didn’t think she’d know the victor until the final count next week.
“I had sincerely been looking at Nov. 7, so had essentially given myself this week to just really enjoy sitting in my new baby bubble and spending time with my husband and my new daughter,” she said.
That’s what she was doing until about 1:05 p.m. Thursday, when she saw a Facebook post from her opponent. “The good people of Regina University have chosen and I would like to congratulate Aleana Young on both of her deliveries,” Beaudry-Mellor wrote.
Young said the next three hours were “particularly bonkers,” as phone alerts streamed in.
But Thursday was bittersweet for the NDP in Regina. The closely fought race of Regina Pasqua looks out of reach, as challenger Bhajan Brar failed to catch up to Saskatchewan Party incumbent Muhammad Fiaz. Brar acknowledged that it’s now hardly possible for him to prevail, and said he was preparing to concede to his opponent.
New results in both races came as election workers count 40,214 mail-in ballots that arrived on or before election night, province-wide. By late Thursday afternoon, they had finished their tallies for all 61 constituencies.
The NDP saw its share of the vote rise from 29.12 per cent on election night to 30.78 per cent in the updated count, while the Sask. Party saw its share drop from 62.95 to 61.57 per cent. The new vote share is barely better for the NDP than in 2016.
There are still potentially 21,000 mail-in ballot packages that were sent to voters but weren’t returned as of election night. They’ll be counted on Nov. 7. But there’s little chance they’ll change the game in Regina University or Regina Pasqua.
Young was trailing by 178 votes in University on election night. But after election workers counted 1,370 mail-in ballots over two days, she has built up an advantage of 226 votes over Beaudry-Mellor.
There are still 444 mail-in ballot packages out there. But Beaudry-Mellor read the tea leaves. She thanked her staff and campaign team, and promised to continue supporting the Saskatchewan Party. Beyond that, her plans are simple.
“I am going to take some time to be with my kids and my dogs and to reflect,” Beaudry-Mellor added. “I’ll see you around soon.”
Young said her daughter, Hara, will likely make a few appearances in the legislative assembly, where rules were recently changed to allow MLAs to bring their young children.
Results for Regina Pasqua came just hours after Young got the news. Brar was trailing Sask. Party incumbent Muhammad Fiaz by 576 votes on election night. The updated count tightened the race somewhat, with Brar now behind by 386 votes.
But Brar told the Leader-Post that it doesn’t look possible for him to make up the difference, even with about 800 ballots potentially out there. He would need roughly 75 per cent of them if they all arrive, and he’s sure they won’t.
He had earlier predicted victory and told the Leader-Post that it would belong to the people of his constituency. But he would not blame them for his defeat.
“It is not the people’s fault. It is my fault,” he said. “I could not convey my clear message to the people.”
awhite-crummey@postmedia.com
Young, who gave birth to a daughter on Sunday, said she always knew the race would be close and didn’t think she’d know the victor until the final count next week.
“I had sincerely been looking at Nov. 7, so had essentially given myself this week to just really enjoy sitting in my new baby bubble and spending time with my husband and my new daughter,” she said.
That’s what she was doing until about 1:05 p.m. Thursday, when she saw a Facebook post from her opponent. “The good people of Regina University have chosen and I would like to congratulate Aleana Young on both of her deliveries,” Beaudry-Mellor wrote.
Young said the next three hours were “particularly bonkers,” as phone alerts streamed in.
But Thursday was bittersweet for the NDP in Regina. The closely fought race of Regina Pasqua looks out of reach, as challenger Bhajan Brar failed to catch up to Saskatchewan Party incumbent Muhammad Fiaz. Brar acknowledged that it’s now hardly possible for him to prevail, and said he was preparing to concede to his opponent.
New results in both races came as election workers count 40,214 mail-in ballots that arrived on or before election night, province-wide. By late Thursday afternoon, they had finished their tallies for all 61 constituencies.
The NDP saw its share of the vote rise from 29.12 per cent on election night to 30.78 per cent in the updated count, while the Sask. Party saw its share drop from 62.95 to 61.57 per cent. The new vote share is barely better for the NDP than in 2016.
There are still potentially 21,000 mail-in ballot packages that were sent to voters but weren’t returned as of election night. They’ll be counted on Nov. 7. But there’s little chance they’ll change the game in Regina University or Regina Pasqua.
Young was trailing by 178 votes in University on election night. But after election workers counted 1,370 mail-in ballots over two days, she has built up an advantage of 226 votes over Beaudry-Mellor.
There are still 444 mail-in ballot packages out there. But Beaudry-Mellor read the tea leaves. She thanked her staff and campaign team, and promised to continue supporting the Saskatchewan Party. Beyond that, her plans are simple.
“I am going to take some time to be with my kids and my dogs and to reflect,” Beaudry-Mellor added. “I’ll see you around soon.”
Young said her daughter, Hara, will likely make a few appearances in the legislative assembly, where rules were recently changed to allow MLAs to bring their young children.
Results for Regina Pasqua came just hours after Young got the news. Brar was trailing Sask. Party incumbent Muhammad Fiaz by 576 votes on election night. The updated count tightened the race somewhat, with Brar now behind by 386 votes.
But Brar told the Leader-Post that it doesn’t look possible for him to make up the difference, even with about 800 ballots potentially out there. He would need roughly 75 per cent of them if they all arrive, and he’s sure they won’t.
He had earlier predicted victory and told the Leader-Post that it would belong to the people of his constituency. But he would not blame them for his defeat.
“It is not the people’s fault. It is my fault,” he said. “I could not convey my clear message to the people.”
awhite-crummey@postmedia.com
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