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Recount gives N.L. NDP crucial Labrador electoral district by just two votes

Jordan Brown, NDP candidate for Labrador West, is shown in a handout photo provided by Brown. Newfoundland and Labrador's NDP caucus was officially made three on Friday, with a recount declaring the winner in a Labrador riding that has decided the status of the province's minority government by just two votes. The Canadian Press/HO-Jordan Browm

A judicial recount has confirmed a narrow NDP win in a Labrador riding in last month’s provincial election, denying the governing Liberals majority status.

When the final tally was announced today, just two votes separated NDP newcomer Jordan Brown and former Liberal cabinet minister Graham Letto in the district of Labrador West.

READ MORE: NDP newcomer won by 5 votes in Labrador, causing minority Liberal N.L. government

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But that was enough to give the NDP its third seat in the legislature and leave the Liberals with exactly half of the 40 seats.

Brown’s win, initially counted as a five-vote margin, triggered a judicial recount under the province’s Elections Act.

READ MORE: New Democrats lose riding stronghold to Tories in Nova Scotia byelection

The May 16 general election saw voters re-elect Premier Dwight Ball’s Liberals with a reduced caucus, one seat shy of the 21 required for a majority.

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The final numbers provided by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador on Friday counted 1,364 votes for Brown, 1,362 votes for Letto and 509 votes for Progressive Conservative candidate Derick Sharron.

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