John Hogan is Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier-designate, Liberals announce
John Abbott and John Hogan were the 2 contenders for province's top job
The Liberal Party has voted in John Hogan as the new premier-designate of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Winning over an electorate of nearly 14,000 registered Liberals, Hogan rose to power by a wide margin, capturing close to 78 per cent of the vote.
His sole competitor, John Abbott, secured around 22 per cent.
Hogan delivered his first address as premier-designate at the JAG Soundhouse in downtown St. John's Saturday, to chanting and cheers from party members.
"It's an incredible honour," he said. "I recognize it comes with heavy responsibility.... We will build a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador."
The 47-year-old lawyer, who first entered provincial politics four years ago, says he'll bring steady and informed leadership through fresh ideas, and will build on the work of former premier Andrew Furey, who triggered the leadership race when he announced his resignation earlier this year.
In his acceptance speech Saturday, Hogan touched on the province's challenges of the moment, including Canada's rocky relationship with the United States, the cost of living crisis and Newfoundland and Labrador's persistent debt load.
"We already have two strikes against us," said Hogan, referring to tumultuous past deals largely viewed to have wrecked the provincial ledger: the 1969 Churchill Falls agreement and the wildly expensive Muskrat Falls hydroelectricity project.
He added he's committed to negotiating final agreements with Quebec on last year's Churchill Falls MOU to get "the best deal" for the province.
"We cannot afford a new third strike," he said.
Minutes after Hogan's win, Abbott congratulated the premier-designate, saying he's "more than willing, and wanting to work with" the new party leader.
Abbott told CBC News he was anticipating more votes from his fellow Liberals, however.
"Obviously my messaging didn't resonate as much as we thought it had," he said.
Once Hogan is sworn in, he'll become Newfoundland and Labrador's 15th premier — but will soon have to test his mettle in an upcoming general election, which must take place before October.
Leadership race launched after Furey stepped down
The race for the Liberal leadership began after Furey announced his resignation in February. He held the province's top job for nearly five years, taking over as Liberal leader and premier in 2020 and then winning a general election in 2021.
Furey, a surgeon by trade, said at the time he'd accomplished his political goals, and wished to spend more time with his family and return to the operating room.
In a farewell speech to party members Friday night, he thanked his wife and children at length for their patience while he worked away from home.
"If there are times in the last five years that I wasn't there for you, please know that I carried you in my heart everywhere I went and always will," Furey said.
But after leading the province through a pandemic and resulting economic turmoil, his decision came as a shock to even his closest members of cabinet.
It also launched a search for candidates within caucus.
Abbott was the first to announce his intentions to run, marking his second attempt at becoming premier.
He previously ran against Furey to lead the party in 2020, and after his loss held several portfolios within Furey's cabinet, serving as minister of social development, transportation, and housing and mental health.
Hogan announced his intention to run soon after, at an event with his fellow Liberal MHAs in attendance.
He first became an MHA in 2021 after beating out Progressive Conservative Ches Crosbie in the district of Windsor Lake. Since then, he's been the House leader, as well as the minister of both justice and health.
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