Winnipeg South Centre elects Jim Carr

Winnipeg South Centre has elected Liberal candidate Jim Carr, according to CBC's Decision Desk. With 135 out of 200 polls counted, Carr has 59.7 per cent of the vote, Conservative incumbent candidate Joyce Bateman has 28.3 per cent of the vote.

"The people of Winnipeg South Centre say they're ready! And I'm ready to be your member of parliament," Jim Carr said in a rousing victory speech at his party at the Caboto Centre. 

"Red Red Red!" Jim Carr yelled to hundreds of supporters at the packed house event. "I just want to say how much I've learned and how enriching this has been for me personally," he said.

"I'm ecstatic," Carr volunteer Susan Kasian said. "We worked really really hard."

The Liberals came from the wilderness to govern," Carr said. He said the Liberal momentum was good at "bringing out the best of Canadians."

He had more than 400 volunteers who helped on his campaign. Carr thanked Anita Neville and Lloyd Axworthy, the two most recent former Liberals to represent the riding. Axworthy was Carr's campaign co-chair.

Defeated candidate, Bateman, congratulated Carr and thanked her volunteers and fundraising team.

"I leave public office very proud of my accomplishments," she said to a crowd of supporters. 

Who ran in this riding?

• Joyce Bateman, Conservative Party;
• Jim Carr, Liberal Party;
• Matt Henderson, New Democratic Party; and
• Andrew Park, Green Party.

During the campaign, CBC approached the candidates to determine what they thought were the most significant issues in the riding. 

Bateman pointed to the Waverley Underpass, Carr said it was an overall desire for change, Henderson said muzzling scientists was top of mind for riding voters and Andrew Park said there was no specific number 1 issue — that most voters had diverse concerns. 

Bateman stirred controversy when she appeared at an all-candidate's debate earlier this month and made controversial comments about Liberal candidates.

Bateman seemed to call into question the candidates' support for Israel during a question about the economy, eliciting boos from the crowd.

This is the second year Henderson has run. In 2011, he ran as an Independent but lost to Bateman.

She won with 38.82 per cent of the vote, but Liberal Anita Neville came in a close second with 37.02 per cent of the vote.

Also running were the NDP's Dennis Lewycky, the Green Party's Joshua McNeil and independent Lyndon B. Froese.