With the polls closed and the ballots counted in the 2019 federal election, incumbent Alistair MacGregor returns as MP in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding, and his Conservative rival was disappointed with the result.
“It’s going to be a difficult four years,” said Conservative candidate Alana DeLong, who came in second place. She was particularly unhappy about the Liberals once again forming government, though this time in a minority.
Federally, the Conservative Party won the popular vote with 34.4 per cent to the Liberals 33.1 per cent, but lagged behind in seat count at 121 to the winning Liberals’ 157.
“I’m sorry we didn’t make it, but we found thousands that believe what we do. So many people have put their lives into this. It’s been fantastic.”
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DeLong sits at 16,456 votes. Compared to winner MacGregor, she holds around 26 per cent of the popular vote to his 36 per cent.
.@alanadelong concedes to incumbent @AMacGregor4CML for the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford district. She sits at 2nd place around 10pm. #cdnpoli #yyj @GoldstreamNews @LakeCowGazette @CowichanCitizen pic.twitter.com/3P6GaiDeBx
— Aaron Guillen (@iaaronguillen) October 22, 2019
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At the end of the day, the Conservative candidate says she’s less concerned about winning the district and more concerned about the country as a whole with a minority Liberal government.
“Where do we go from here? I’m not sure. But it’s been amazing the way everyone has stepped up. I don’t want it to end. There were so many things that I wanted to do for our district.”
DeLong says she’ll cherish the estimated 9,000 voters she met while door-knocking.
“Those are all people that I’ve met, that I’ve touched, [and] that touched me.”
aaron.guillen@goldstreamgazette.com