Liberal underdog anxiously awaits results in Kildonan-St. Paul

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This article was published 28/04/2025 (342 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Liberal rookie Thomas Naaykens paced around a warehouse decorated in red and white streamers and balloons shortly after the polls closed in Kildonan-St. Paul on Monday.

“I’d like the time to go by a little quicker,” the 36-year-old said, followed by a nervous chuckle, between stints of making small talk with his supporters and glancing at ever-changing early polling results on a live national broadcast.

The first-time candidate, who is currently on leave from the Canadian Armed Forces, is up against two-term Conservative MP Raquel Dancho.

The riding, which encompasses north Winnipeg and surrounding municipalities, has been blue for all but one term since its inception in 2004. The Liberals took it in 2015 under then-freshly minted leader Justin Trudeau.

Despite Naaykens’ nerves and physical exhaustion – by his team’s estimates, he walked an average of 15 kilometres daily over the 36-day campaign, he said he felt optimistic. “What I was hearing at the doors was people want stability,” he added.

Liberal volunteers erupted into cheers when their candidate’s name appeared on the broadcast, showing he was leading by 60 votes. Supporter Donna McDonald wiped tears of excitement from her eyes.

Dancho, who is vying for a third term on Parliament Hill, gathered with supporters at her campaign office on Henderson Highway. The 35-year-old incumbent’s re-election campaign barred entry to the media, pending the results of the local race.