The Liberals have a lot of work ahead to undo 10 years of Stephen Harper, said Sudbury NDP candidate Paul Loewenberg in his concession speech Monday night.
Loewenberg was a distant second to Liberal Paul Lefebvre in an election that gave Justin Trudeau's party a majority.
Loewenberg took nearly 27.8 per cent of the vote, next to Lefebvre's 47.4 per cent.*
Loewenberg acknowledge that strategic voting likely led to strong Liberal support in Sudbury and across much of the country.
“The tidal wave came from the Maritimes, into Ontario and Quebec, and it continues,” he said.
Despite the national momentum for the Liberals, Loewenberg said he was still surprised by Lefebvre's win in Sudbury.
“We heard from voters at the door, right until the last minute, that we were still changing minds and gathering steam,” he said.
While the NDP fell to third place in the House of Commons, Loewenberg said he was glad the Conservatives were not victorious Monday night.
“Anything is preferable to a Conservative majority,” he said. “Eighty per cent of the country is happy to see Stephen Harper find another job.”
A small but loyal group of NDP supporters welcomed Loewenberg at the United Steelworkers Hall, and cheered him on when he took the stage.
“It looks to me that people voted strategically and went with the Liberals,” said United Steelworkers Local 6500 President Rick Bertrand.
When asked whether he would run again, Loewenberg said he would need to speak with his wife first.
*Poll numbers updated 9 a.m. Oct. 20.
