Here's how the 2025 federal election played out in N.L.
One seat remained undecided well after polls closed
Four Liberals claimed seats in Newfoundland and Labrador, CBC projects, and will go to Ottawa as part of a Mark Carney government. But the tightest race in the province remained undecided well after polls closed Monday night.
The Conservatives led for most of the evening and into the early morning on Tuesday in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas — but it's now a toss up.
Elections Canada says counting will resume 11 a.m. NT Tuesday.
After trailing for hours, Liberal candidate Anthony Germain took a 46-vote lead over Conservative candidate Jonathan Rowe just after 1 a.m. With one poll left to report, Rowe announced to his supporters that the final poll would not be counted Monday evening, and encouraged them to go home with optimism.
"This has been a Liberal stronghold and we have come tonight not even knowing if we won or lost until tomorrow morning. And I think that is an amazing statement in itself," Rowe said Monday night.
The uncounted poll is referred to as a national poll, containing special ballots, such as votes from Canadian Armed Forces members.
Liberal candidate Anthony Germain had said he would speak to CBC News once it was announced that the final poll would not be counted until later Tuesday, but he was then not available.
CBC News has projected Liberal MPs will represent St. John's East, Avalon, Cape Spear and Labrador, while Conservative representatives will go to Ottawa for Long Range Mountains and Central Newfoundland.
The CBC's decision desk projected a Liberal government just before 11:45 p.m. NT on Monday night, although it remains unclear whether the party can claim a majority.
Just after 10:30 p.m. Monday, the CBC decision desk projected that Joanne Thompson had been elected in the riding of St. John's East. She received around 63 per cent of the vote with two polls left to report.
"This may have taken a little bit longer, but I had no doubt that we were going to do this," Thompson said just after her projected win.
"St. John's East, we have our elbows up."
Thompson was most recently the federal fisheries minister under Mark Carney's pre-election government, and was first voted into the House of Commons in 2021.
WATCH | Jonathan Rowe addresses his supporters early Tuesday morning:
Liberal candidate Philip Earle, a businessman who has previously worked with different levels of government, became the first MP elected in Canada in the riding of Labrador.
"We knew we were in a good position, we were hearing that at the doors. We were hearing why people wanted to vote for me and the Liberal Party," Earle told CBC News Monday.
"As a result of that, we were confident in the win. But in this, you never become too confident."
On the other side of the province, Liberal Tom Osborne was quickly projected as the winner of Cape Spear.
Osborne spent decades as a provincial MHA and cabinet minister. He came out of political retirement to run for the federal Liberals. He received 68 per cent of the vote over Conservative Corey Curtis.
He says he's looking forward to making a difference as part of Carney's team.
"When I retired provincially I thought I was retired," Osborne told reporters. "Nobody is under the illusion that the work ahead is easy."
Liberal candidate Paul Connors has also claimed the riding of Avalon.
Connors, the former assistant to outgoing MP Ken McDonald, received nearly 59 per cent of the vote, beating out Conservative Steve Kent.
Speaking to supporters after his election, Connors said he's ready to represent his constituents in the House of Commons.
"I'm excited, I'm energized, I'm motivated. I'm ready to go to Ottawa. But mostly right now I'm humbled," he said. "We [have] got to tackle the cost of living. I think that's big. I heard that at the doors a whole lot."
The Conservatives took their first seat of the night in Central Newfoundland, with voters resoundingly re-electing Clifford Small. He received around 54 per cent of the vote.
"We soldiered on, we worked hard, we knew the support was there. The people have spoken," Small told CBC News in the minutes following his re-election.
"I feel great, I feel very happy for the people of the riding of Central Newfoundland and for the people behind me who made this possible. It's their victory. It's a victory for the Central Newfoundland riding and it's a victory for Newfoundland and Labrador."
In western Newfoundland, The Tories have flipped Long Range Mountains. Conservative candidate Carol Anstey has claimed over 50 per cent of the total vote, ahead of runner-up Liberal Don Bradshaw.
Anstey ran for the party in the last election, losing to Liberal MP Gudie Hutchings. Hutchings was one of five Newfoundland and Labrador incumbents who did not seek re-election.
"When I lost in 2021, one of the things that I felt after the dust settled is that it had been a Liberal riding for such a long period of time. I didn't look at it as a failure. I think sometimes change just takes time. People are a little bit fearful of change," Anstey told CBC News from her campaign event in Deer Lake.
"It was a lot of work, but it's well worth it because I believe in this riding and I believe that a change will make a difference for us."
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