Advertisement

Kelowna-Lake Country turns blue again with Gray victory

Click to play video: 'Kelowna-Lake Country election results and reaction'
Kelowna-Lake Country election results and reaction
Candidates react to federal election results in Kelowna-Lake Country. Jules Knox reports. – Oct 22, 2019

After four years of Liberal red, the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country flipped back to Conservative blue on Monday night.

Conservative candidate Tracy Gray defeated incumbent Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr by a wide margin, earning 45.7 per cent of the vote.

Click to play video: 'Raw interview with Stephen Fuhr'
Raw interview with Stephen Fuhr

With all 231 polls reporting, Gray garnered 31,037 votes. Fuhr was second at 32.6 per cent and 22,150 votes.

Story continues below advertisement

Justin Kulik of the NDP was third at 12.1 per cent (8,229) with Travis Ashley of the Green Party in fourth at 7.4 per cent (5,025).

In her victory speech, Gray said the win “was really about you and this is about the people of Kelowna-Lake Country.”

Click to play video: 'Tracy Gray’s raw interview after victory speech'
Tracy Gray’s raw interview after victory speech

The riding has historically been Conservative, though in 2015 Fuhr was part of the Liberal wave that swept across the nation. Fuhr, with 46.2 per cent of the vote, defeated incumbent MP Ron Cannan, who was second at 39.8 per cent.

Story continues below advertisement

“When I ran in 2015, I knew 40 people and I have a lot of good friends now and a lot of support,” Fuhr said in defeat Monday night. “And that support is what enabled me to deliver for this community.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“That’s something I’ll always be proud of and it won’t change. (Monday’s results) doesn’t change what the last four years were all about. So I’m going to focus on that.”

Click to play video: 'Federal Election 2019: Canada has ‘national unity problem’: political analyst'
Federal Election 2019: Canada has ‘national unity problem’: political analyst

Asked what it was like watching Monday’s results, Fuhr said “it was pretty painful. It was painful in 2015. It happens very slowly and I’m also very concerned about the bigger picture.

“I want a lot things this community wants. I want stronger action on climate change. I want pharmacare for everybody. I want those things, too, and, luckily, we’ve got a Liberal government that’s going to be backed by the NDP, and we’re going to move forward on some of those things.

Story continues below advertisement

“I just won’t be there to help out.”

Click to play video: 'Federal Election 2019: The wins, losses and surprises of the federal election'
Federal Election 2019: The wins, losses and surprises of the federal election

Sponsored content

AdChoices