NDP's Lisa Gretzky wins in Windsor West, spoiling Ford's bid to turn region blue

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford's bid to turn southwestern Ontario completely blue failed on Thursday, as NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky held onto her seat in the heart of the province's automotive manufacturing industry. 

Gretzky was re-elected in the Windsor West riding, which she has represented since 2014, after facing a challenge from PC candidate Tony Francis.

The NDP victory in the border city follows an all-out push by Ford to flip the seat in a rare winter snap election that opponents criticized as opportunistic. Ford, meanwhile, argued the race was necessary to give the premier a strong mandate amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

"The people in Windsor West, they showed Doug Ford that you can't take the people here for granted," Gretzky told reporters after the race was called.

"I got a stronger mandate than last election," she said, adding that her victory showed voters were concerned about health care and education funding. 

Still, it was a good night for Ford's party, which CBC News projected would form a majority government. 

The PCs also maintained their seats in the rest of the southwestern Ontario. PC MPP Anthony Leardi secured re-election in Essex, as did PC incumbent Andrew Dowie in Windsor-Tecumseh. 

Bob Bailey in Sarnia-Lambton and Trevor Jones in Chatham-Kent-Leamington were also predicted to win. 

Bailey declined to be interviewed by CBC Thursday evening. 

Results and calls from CBC's election desk can be found here. 

Voter turnout is up across southwestern Ontario ridings. 

Windsor West

Gretzky on Thursday thanked voters for their trust.

"I will always fight like hell for this community that I love the most," she wrote on Facebook.

She faced a challenge from PC candidate Francis, who did not participate in debates or take questions from the media during the campaign. His campaign website described him as a professional with an MBA in finance and a bachelor's degree in engineering.

Francis was at a private event Thursday evening and did not speak with CBC following his loss. 

There was no Liberal candidate in the riding. 

Windsor-Tecumseh

WATCH: Dowie speaks with reporters after election night win

'I want to deliver that hospital:' Dowie says speaking to reporters after re-election

13 hours ago

Duration 4:11

PC MPP Andrew Dowie was re-elected in Windsor-Tecumseh Thursday night. Speaking to reporters at a gathering of friends and supporter, Dowie said getting the region's new hospital delivered is his number one priority this term. While he said some residents he spoke with while door knocking weren't aware of his party's platform and accomplishments, he also said it's the most effective way to reach voters.

PC incumbent Dowie, first elected in 2022, also thanked voters in his riding, saying "it is such a privilege" to represent them at the Ontario Legislature.

A former Town of Tecumseh councillor, he said he was "challenged" by some voters while door-knocking, particularly about health care, but "truly appreciated those engagements" because they allow him to better represent the community. 

Dowie said his top priority for the next four years will be delivering the planned new hospital to the Windsor-Essex region, and that he'll do whatever it takes to speed up the process.

Running against him were Gemma Grey-Hall for the NDP and Connor Logan for the Liberals, among other candidates. 

Grey-Hall said "the people have spoken" when asked for her reaction to the results.

"It was a snap election in the middle of winter," she said, accusing the PCs of calling the election when Trump's tariff threats provided an opportunity. 

She said she will "absolutely" run again, adding that others have told her she inspired them to run for office as well. 

Essex

PC MPP Anthony Leardi said he was "very grateful to the voters of Essex County" for their faith in him and for another term at Queens Park.

"We are going to continue working against the threat of tariffs," Leardi told CBC Windsor. "We're going to continue protecting the workers of Ontario and we're going to continue protecting our manufacturing jobs and all of the good progress that we've made since Mr. Ford has become premier."

Leardi has represented the rural riding since 2022, and faced challenges from former Kingsville deputy mayor Tamara Stomp and community activist Rachael Mills.

Stomp, representing the Liberals, served on Kingsville's town council for more than a decade. Mills, the NDP candidate, has worked in health care and customer service.

After securing the win Thursday, Leardi urged voters in the riding to "come together as a patriotic union" in the face of tariff threats.