THUNDER BAY — Kevin Holland has easily retained his seat in Thunder Bay–Atikokan.
Holland was re-elected quickly as the MPP for the riding on Thursday evening, taking an early lead over the NDP’s Judith Monteith-Farrell and Liberal candidate Stephen Margarit, who were in a close race for second place, and the New Blue Party’s Martin Tempelman, Green candidate Eric Arner and Northern Ontario Party candidate K.C. Jones.
The MPP gave his victory speech at Whitewater Golf Club less than 30 minutes after polls closed in Ontario.
“But how about those numbers?” he asked his supporters. “I’m going to tell you I’m yet again humbled by the support that the residents have given to me tonight."
Holland said history was made in Thunder Bay-Atikokan in 2022 as he was the first Progressive Conservative candidate to take the riding in decades.
"You've given me another mandate to represent this beautiful part of our province at Queen's Park and I'm very grateful for the continued opportunity. This win tonight really validates the hard work we've all done over the last two-and-a-half years," said Holland.
Monteith-Farrell represented Thunder Bay-Atikokan as MPP from 2018 to 2022. After losing the race in 2022 to Holland, she decided to take another run during this snap election.
She was disappointed in Thursday's results but remains committed to working in the community.
"It's been great. I really have enjoyed interacting with the people of Thunder Bay. It's great going door to door. It's just been a really positive experience," said Monteith-Farrell, when asked about morale Thursday evening.
Margarit sent his congratulations to Holland and wished him the best as MPP.
“I went into this knowing that the cards were stacked against me. This election was picked to give the government the best shot at re-election," he said. "I was running against two people who've run previously and who has served in the role, so I'm just incredibly honoured that so many people have decided to vote for me.”
Margarit hasn't ruled out another run at politics.
"We’ll have to wait and see what happens in four years, but as being someone who has worked on many campaigns at the provincial and federal level, I enjoy them, and I have four years to make that decision, but I'm still going to go back to my job and working volunteering in the community, and you'll be seeing me around.”
With all 73 polls in Thunder Bay-Atikokan having reported their results, Holland garnered 13,727 votes, winning over second place finisher Monteith-Farrell by 5,961 votes. Monteith-Farrell secured 7,766 votes and Margarit came in third with 7,397 votes.
Much farther behind was Tempelman with 498 votes, Arner with 457 and Jones with 184 votes.
The riding saw voter turnout hit 49.46 per cent.
- With files from Nicky Shaw and Olivia Browning
