Sonia Furstenau will spend a second term in the B.C. legislature, this time as leader of the B.C. Greens.
With 75 ballot boxes of 100 reporting in, the Canadian Press is calling the Cowichan Valley riding for the new Green leader, who is leading with 4,257 votes, followed by Rob Douglas of the NDP by 3,536 votes, and Tanya Kaul of the Liberals with 1,585 votes.
Shortly after the polls closed, Furstenau was headed to the Delta Hotel in Victoria to wait for the final results with her provincial team. She said they have done the best they could in the short time they had to prepare.
鈥淚 just got off the phone with our many volunteers, and they are very positive and excited after the campaign,鈥 Furstenau said Saturday night. 鈥淢any people have been saying that they鈥檝e never voted Green before, but they鈥檝e decided to vote Green this time. We鈥檙e very optimistic.鈥
Furstenau said that despite Premier John Horgan鈥檚 decision to call a snap election, she鈥檚 incredibly proud of what she and her team have accomplished during the 34-day campaign.
She said the party鈥檚 volunteers, the candidates across the province and the record-breaking donations have been incredible.
鈥淐onsidering the fact that on day one of the election call, we had no candidates in place and then quickly managed to have Green candidates in 74 readings is truly extraordinary and it鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really proud of,鈥 she said.
鈥淭here has been some preparation by the party in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, and that鈥檚 why we have such great candidates in place there. Others have stepped up in other ridings and we鈥檙e grateful for them.鈥
Furstenau said she spent the morning of election day in her headquarters in Shawnigan Lake before heading to the Farmers Market in Duncan where she talked to people in the streets and shop owners.
鈥淲e put a lot of energy in the campaign, and I feel we did a great job,鈥 she said.
鈥淣ow we鈥檒l just have to wait and see the results.鈥