Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili claims to have won Saskatoon Meewasin

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili claims to have won Saskatoon Meewasin.

While Elections Saskatchewan is working to complete the second preliminary vote, the leader of the official Opposition says he won his riding.

Meili held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon saying he won the Saskatoon Meewasin constituency.

With 51 out of 51 polls reporting on Wednesday night, Meili leads 209 votes ahead of Saskatchewan Party candidate Rylund Hunter. There are still 591 mail-in ballots that could be received.

Meili also says the NDP’s Matt Love won the riding of Saskatoon Eastview, over Sask. Party candidate Chris Guérette. As of Wednesday evening, with 53 out of 53 polls reporting, Love had a 207 vote lead over Guérette. However, there are still over 500 mail-in ballots that could be received.

Meili also claimed victory for the NDP in Saskatoon University, with candidate Jennifer Bowes ahead of the Sask. Party’s Eric Olauson by over 350 votes with all 45 polls reporting. However, there are still 457 mail-in ballots that could be received.

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Meili said the NDP lost the riding of Prince Albert Northcote, with the Sask. Party’s Alana Ross ahead of incumbent Nicole Rancourt of the NDP by 224 votes, with up to 243 mail-in ballots that could still be received.

Meili also conceded defeat in the riding of Saskatoon Riversdale. As of Wednesday evening the Sask. Party’s Marv Friesen held a lead of 196 votes over the NDP’s Ashlee Hicks. However, there are still up to 393 mail-in ballots that could be received.

FULL COVERAGE: 2020 Saskatchewan Election

The other close race is in Regina University, where the Sask. Party’s Tina Beaudry-Mellor was leading by 178 votes, with 1,841 mail-in ballots left.

Incumbent Meili is contesting Saskatoon Meewasin in a general election for the first time as party leader.

He won the riding over the Saskatchewan Party’s Brent Penner by 704 votes in a 2017 byelection.

The past two Saskatchewan NDP leaders, Dwain Lingenfelter and Cam Broten, lost their seats in 2011 and 2016, respectively.

Global News declared a Saskatchewan Party majority government on Monday.

Saskatoon Meewasin is one of six races that were too close to call on Monday night.