NDP sweeps London's core with voters choosing the opposition

An orange wave swept through the city's core on Thursday as London voters elected three NDP candidates, while residents living on the outskirts choseProgressive Conservativerepresentatives.

While the province is poised for change under a new leadership, the London area has remained much of the same with five of its six ridings re-electingits incumbents.

Londoners re-elected NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong in London-Fanshawe and Peggy Sattler in London West.

"Thank you for placing your trust once again in me," Sattler addressed a packed room at the London Ukrainian Centre on election day.

London votersalso put their faith in NDP rookie candidate TerenceKernaghan, who won in the highly contested London North Centre riding after the retirement of political heavyweight Deb Matthews.

"It is clearer than ever that we have to redouble our efforts to make change for the better," Kernaghan said. "I promise to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the working people of this city and this province to do everything we can to stop damaging cuts."

Rural residents saw their regions stay Tory blue as they re-elected Progressive Conservative MPPs Jeff Yurek in Elgin-Middlesex-London, Monte McNaughton elected in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and Ernie Hardeman in Oxford.

Tory outskirts

Despite having no leader in March along with a number of other hiccups, the PCs led by the newly elected premier Doug Ford have secured a majority government ending 15 years of Liberal power.

Outside of the city, rural candidates aren't wasting time with taking voters' concerns to Queens Park.

"The number one issue in our campaign was fixing the hydro mess as well as people feel their family budget has stretched. So people want relief [We want to] stop some of these wind turbine projects that are slated for my riding," said McNaughton.

Many Tory supporters, including Jacob Teichroeb, aren't fazed by an orange core, relying heavily on the new government to make the final decisions.

"I'm not worried I don't think the local ridings have that much power per say I think I think it's the bigger picture Overall the bigger picture, we have a conservative majority so I'm happy," said Teichroeb, who rallied behind former PC candidate Andrew Lawton in London West.

Lawton, who's a former radio talk show host in London, accepted his defeat after a tumultuous campaign that saw the resurrection of his controversial past tweets.

"It is going to be a PC government that will make the decisions that will impact London. I hope that the local MPPs will work with the government on delivering what is best for London and for Ontario," he said.

Health care a focus

With an unprecedented representation ofNew Democrats in the city, the new trio plans to put a spotlight on the health care system in London that has previously generateddebate over staff shortages, lack of mental health care and long hospital wait times.

"I promise to fight the PC privatization of health care agenda every single day at Queens Park," said Kernaghan.

"I promise to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the working people of this city and this province to do everything we can to stop damaging cuts," he added.

A closer look at election night