Skelly takes Flamborough-Glanbrook, while NDP sweep rest of Hamilton

As Doug Ford's PCs are set to form a majority government, Hamilton will have just one representative in the governing caucus.

City councillor Donna SkellytookFlamboroughGlanbrook and is likely to be the only Conservative elected in the city as the NDPsurge gave it a sweep across the other four city ridings.

In HamiltonWest AncasterDundas,NDP candidate Sandy Shaw unseated long time Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin. McMeekin, in fact was a distant third, with PC candidate Ben Levitt running in second place.

When a tsunami hits, it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not, you tend to drown in the flood.- Ted McMeekin

The two ridings show how the main threads of the campaign played out locally, with the strong PC and NDPcampaigns delivering results at the expense of Liberals.

In Burlington, PC Jane McKenna reclaimed theriding currently held by Liberal Eleanor McMahon.

NDPincumbents in Hamilton Mountainand Hamilton East, Monique Taylor and Paul Miller, were alsore-elected.NDP leader Andrea Horwathis the projected winner in her Hamilton Centre riding.

Shaw said the win "feels awesome."

She hadfamily and friends around her and her parents called to say they're proud.

'What Andrea and the New Democrats were offering ... for people was resonating really well in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas and I guess the results show that."

She paid tribute to the long service of the man she defeated, who visited her to congratulate her.

"The legacy of what he's brought to our community won't be forgotten. I take it with the greatest humility and honour that I am carrying on from his work."

McMeekin, who has represented the area since 2000, arrived to big cheers from a small group of supporters at a local restaurant.Hetold themtofocus on the 18 years they've had together.He said PCmajority was a wave they got caught up in.

There was a wave

"I think there was a wave ... when a tsunami hits, it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not, you tend to drown in the flood. I think there was a tsunami."

PC candidate Ben Levitt was running his first campaign. "I'm a little disappointed by the result, locally. We tried really hard but we came up a little bit short."

While he didn't win he says, overall, "I think it's a bright night for the province. I think the next 4 years will be much better than the last 15."

In her victory speech, Skellythanked her team and said: "Tonightmarks the beginning of change.Tomorrowvoters will wake to a new beginning, an era where the government represents you, the taxpayer."

She works hard and because of that, she'll serve her constituents well.- JohnDemik

In that race, Skellywas up against a fellow city councillor, Judi Partridge. But it was NDP candidate Melissa McGlashen who was Skelly'sclosest challenger. Partridge got just 15per cent of the vote.

Supporter John Demikwas happy to have Skellyrepresenting the riding at QP:

"She recognizes our demographic. She's a hard worker. She works hard and because of that, she'll serve her constituents well."

Added by fellow supporter Wally Boonstra "And she'll cut waste, and there's a lot of that."

Skellyhas been an opponent of the city's LRT project and her election could spell trouble for it as those on council lukewarm to it might see an opening to pull the plug on it.

Horwathtook a moment during her speech to thank the city for supporting her. She won handily in her riding with 65 per cent of the vote.

"It's the privilege of my life to represent this great city," she said.

Other results from the broader region:

Long-time Liberal Jim Bradleyhasrepresented St. Catharines since 1977 but the Liberal collapse didn't spare him. He lost his long-time seat to NDP candidate, Jennie Stevens.

Toby Barrett, PC, has been re-elected inHaldimand-Norfolk. He was first elected in 1995.

Sam Oosterhoff, PC, has been re-elected in Niagara West.

Live blog: recap

Our live blog captured every moment along the way with contributions fromexpert panelistsincluding former Hamilton city councillor and Conservative MPP Brad Clark, Sarah Jama, a volunteer in NDP leader Andrea Horwath's campaign, Peter Graefe, professor of political science at McMaster University and Hamiltonhigh school student Lachlan Holmes.

On mobile? Follow along here.

The panelists

Sarah Jama

SarahJamais a volunteer contact coordinator for AndreaHorwath's campaign in Hamilton Centre,co-founder of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario andholds a Social Sciences degree from McMaster University.

Brad Clark

Brad Clark is a former Hamilton city councillor and MPPin the governments ofMike Harris and Ernie Eves. He served as Minister of Transportation and later as Minister of Labour.

"Given that polls have shown upwards of 80% of voters believe that it is time for change, the defeat of the liberal government appears to be a sure bet. But, who will voters chose to govern? Will there be any Liberal seats left in the province? Will Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne resign on election night? What happens to the local liberal stalwart, Ted McMeekin? If the NDP does not form government, will Andrea Horwath continue to lead the NDP? What will the PCs do if Doug Ford does not form government? Will there be yet another leadership review?

These are all cliff hanging political questions, stay tuned."

Peter Graefe

Peter Graefe is a political scientist at McMaster University in Hamilton.

"We have swung from one majority government to another, even as the governing party regularly gets fewer thantwo votes in five. The current government received 38.7% in 2014. The Conservatives got 35.5% of the votes in 2014 in a "disastrous" campaign. This time, they are doing only marginally better, but may well win a strong majority government. We have had a couple of weeks where the two leading parties being tied in the opinion polls, but with a Conservative majority as a strong possibility given how the parties concentrate their votes. Is this the election where Ontarians ask why they embrace their existing electoral system, with all the instability it creates as small electoral shifts create major shifts in government philosophy?"

Lachlan Holmes

Lachlan Holmes, 15, is a student at Westdale Secondary school and the founder of Hamilton Forward, a group advocating for increased density and smart development in Hamilton.

"I'm prettyconcerned about how laissez faire we've got with platforms and real policy. Doug Ford doesn't have a platform. It's very basic platform and it's not costed.I hope more people my age are paying attention and learning to think about the issues in a critical sense. The decisions made today will effect me for the next 60, 70. 80 years."