Susan Holt elected as New Brunswick Liberal leader | RiseNB

Susan Holt elected as New Brunswick Liberal leader

In a historic victory Saturday, Susan Holt has been chosen as the new leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party.

She is the first woman to win the party’s leadership in the province. 

She won on the third ballot with 51.67 per cent of the vote. T.J. Harvey was the runner-up.

Holt will lead the party into the next election against the governing Progressive Conservatives now led by Premier Blaine Higgs.

Holt is shown after her victory on Saturday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

The party used preferential balloting, meaning members voting over the past week ranked their first, second, third and fourth choices for leader. In order for a winner to be decided, a candidate needed 50 per cent of the vote.

Former cabinet minister Donald Arseneault, current MLA Robert Gauvin, Harvey, who is a former MP, and Holt, an adviser to the former Brian Gallant government, were on the ballot. 

During the first round of balloting, Harvey had 33.9 per cent, Holt had 32.12 per cent, Gauvin had 19.76 per cent and Arseneault had 14.22 per cent. Arseneault was dropped off the ballot and the votes were redistributed. 

Harvey polled 39.58 per cent in the second vote while Holt had 36.76 per cent and Gauvin had 23.67 per cent. Gauvin fell off the ballot.

 



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