Susan Holt’s Liberal Party of New Brunswick has won the province’s 2024 election, marking a significant shift in leadership and ending Blaine Higgs’ pursuit of a third consecutive term.
The victory makes Holt the first female premier in New Brunswick’s history, following a closely contested race.
The Liberal Party’s triumph signals a change in direction for the province after nearly six years of Progressive Conservative governance.
The Liberals secured the required number of seats to form a majority government in the Legislative Assembly leading in 31 ridings. Meanwhile, Higgs’ Progressive Conservatives only won in 16 ridings and the Greens won 2 seats.
Holt was elected in her riding of Fredericton South-Silverwood while Higgs lost to Liberal candidate Aaron Kennedy in Quispamsis.
The Liberals saw a significant increase from the 17 seats the party held after the 2020 provincial election when they were the official opposition to the Conservatives’ majority government.
New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly consists of 49 seats, with 25 needed to form a majority government. In 2020, Higgs’ party won 27 seats.
Holt’s victory comes after a 33-day campaign where the Liberals emphasized improved access to healthcare, increased affordability measures, a new housing strategy, and a reformed education system.
Holt also promised to introduce climate action measures, enhance economic development, and improve leadership in provincial governance.
The Progressive Conservatives’ campaign focused on fiscal management, pledging an HST tax cut, opposing new drug injection sites, and renewing the legal challenge against the federal carbon tax. Blaine Higgs also committed to investment in addiction treatment, support for religious groups facing hate crimes, and protection of landowners’ rights.
New Brunswick reported a 66% turnout in the 2020 provincial election.
Prior to election day, 133,964 votes were cast during advanced voting, special ballot voting at returning offices, and mail-in ballots, according to CTV. The election also saw the return of campus voting stations, which were open in advance.
The New Brunswick election featured eight registered parties, along with various Independent candidates. Since joining Canada in 1867, only the Liberals or Conservatives have governed New Brunswick.