As the NDP dreams of government faded away quickly Tuesday night, veteran NDP MLA Jenny Kwan increased her personal vote to take Vancouver-Mount Pleasant for a fifth straight election.
Kwan was re-elected with 12,154 votes. The 2013 election marks the fifth victory in a row Kwan, who was one of two NDP MLAs elected in the 2001 election, which saw Gordon Campbells B.C. Liberals sweep Ujjal Dosanjhs NDP from power. Kwan will continue to represent Mount Pleasant as she has since 1996, while working as the NDP critic for Jobs, Economic Development and Trade.
Her biggest opponents this election were B.C. Liberal Celyna Sia Sherst and the Green Partys Barinder Hans, who finished with 3,505 and 2,180 votes, respectively.
Kwans platform was based on closing the wealth gap and protecting the environment. Kwan co-hosted the NDP election party at Canada Place and immediately congratulated former B.C. NDP leader Carole James on her victory in Victoria-Beacon Hill, despite having been instrumental in calling for Jamess resignation as party leader in 2011.
Kwans riding of Mount Pleasant has a reputation of being one of the most left-wing in B.C.. Previous elections have seen Kwan votes double those of her opponents. While the NDPs rise in popularity faded away for most ridings on election night, Kwans popularity slightly rose since the 2009 election.
