In a significant electoral showing, the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, led by Premier Doug Ford, achieved robust victories in the Ontario byelections for the ridings of Milton and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. These results affirm the continued support for the Ford government’s policies among Ontario voters.
In the closely watched Milton riding, PC candidate Zee Hamid, a former Milton councillor with previous Liberal affiliations, secured the seat with a commanding lead of over 2,400 votes, or nine percentage points ahead of his nearest rival, Liberal candidate Galen Naidoo Harris. This victory is particularly noteworthy as it occurred in a region where the Liberals had hoped to gain ground. “I feel great,” said Hamid following his win. “I think it’s an affirmation of the great work that our PC Party is doing in Ontario and people voted to continue that.”
Further solidifying the PC stronghold, Steve Pinsonneault garnered an impressive 57 percent of the votes in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, a traditional Tory territory. The victory was celebrated by Ford and his party at a victory event in Milton, where Ford remarked on the humility and gratitude felt by the party: “We’re fortunate, we’re blessed, but we’re very humbled about the victory.”
The Liberal Party, while finishing second in both contests, viewed the outcomes as a clear indicator that they are the primary contenders against the current government. “Tonight’s results in Milton and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex send a strong message: Bonnie Crombie and Ontario’s Liberals are the only alternative to Doug Ford,” stated the Ontario Liberal Party.
Despite the defeat, the Liberals expressed their intent to persist in holding the PC government accountable. “Ontario Liberals will continue to hold the Ford Conservatives accountable for choosing to reward their rich insider friends instead of fighting for the real people of Ontario,” they affirmed.
These byelections were the first electoral test for Bonnie Crombie, the new leader of the Ontario Liberals, and were seen as pivotal in assessing both her leadership and the electoral strategy of the Liberals moving forward. The results highlight a robust endorsement of the PC government’s direction, setting a tone for future political engagements in the province.