Ken McDonald says 'we knew it would be a big win'

Liberal Ken McDonald headed into Monday's federal election confident of victoryand that's exactly what the voters in theNewfoundland and Labrador riding of Avalon delivered.

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The former mayor of Conception Bay South received more than 23,600votes, soundlydefeating five other candidates, including incumbent Scott Andrews, who ran as an independent after being turfed from the Liberal party in March amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

"We knew it would be a big win," McDonald told reporters Monday night during a celebration at the Trip Inn Lounge in Conception Bay South.

McDonald took the lead after the first of 222 polls reported, and gradually pulled far away.

He finished with more than 55 per cent of the vote, and will be one of seven Newfoundland and Labrador MPs to serve in the new Liberal government.

He gave much of the credit for his victory to the surge in popularity of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, the prime minister-elect.

"He played a big part in it, especially with a lot of the younger voters and undecided," he said.

Andrews finished second with 7,501 votes, while New Democrat Jeannie Baldwin, with 6,085 votes, came in third.

The Conservative candidate, Lorraine Barnett, received the support of4,670 voters.

Green Party candidate Krista Byrne-Puumala finished fifthwith 228 votes, while Jennifer McCreath, representing the Strength in Democracy Party, received 84 votes.

McDonald arrived at the Trip Inn to a chorus of applause and wellwishesand said he hopes to deliver on the solid mandate he received.

"Every community in this district deserves to be well-representedand I intendto do just that," he said.