For anyone interested in the politics of the Great White North (and, after all, I follow most of your silly elections), it's By-election Night in Canada!
Specifically, the electors of Toronto-Danforth voted today for a new Member of Parliament to take the seat formerly held by the late Jack Layton. And in a not-surprising but welcome result, Craig Scott of the NDP has been elected.
More past the NDP-orange squiggle.
Toronto-Danforth lies deep in the heart of Toronto and has been held by either the NDP or the Liberals since 1979. Layton won it narrowly in 2004 but built it into a stronghold in the following three elections.
Scott is a rookie in electoral politics but has an impressive resumé in international law and human rights law. (He also happens to be a native of Nova Scotia, I'm proud to say.)
9:33pm EDST: It's official, the Liberal candidate has conceded. With 43% of polls reporting, Scott has 58.1% to 29.8% Liberal. The Cons and the Greens are running neck-and-neck around 5% each.
WOOHOO!
11:32pm EDST: With all polls reporting, it's NDP: 59.4%, Lib. 28.5%, Con. 5.4%, Green 4.7%, all others under .5%. 43.4% turnout, which is not bad for a by-election. An overwhelming mandate for Craig.