Some Regina ridings still undecided; Sask. Party could finish with more seats than it came in with

While there are still three undecided ridings, the Saskatchewan Party could be on its way to more seats than it came in with.

Nine of the 12 ridings were decided as of midnight.

The Saskatchewan Party entered the 2020 Saskatchewan election with six seats in the city compared to the NDP’s five. One seat — Regina Walsh Acres — was left vacant in 2019 when former Sask. Party MLA Warren Steinley made the leap to join the federal Conservative Party.

Late Monday, the Saskatchewan Party was leading or elected in eight of the ridings. The NDP was leading or elected in four.

Mark Docherty, who was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in March 2018, won the Regina Coronation Park riding in 2016 by just 147 votes. Late Monday, he had a 450-vote lead over the NDP’s Noor Burki with more than 800 mail-in ballots to be counted.

In Regina University, Tina Beaudry-Mellor and the Sask. Party won the seat over the NDP’s Aleana Young by 417 votes in 2016. Young and Beaudry-Mellor were in a tight race as of Monday night, with Beaudry-Mellor leading by 178 votes as of 11:30 p.m. There were 1,814 vote-by-mail applications requested for the riding.

The NDP’s Nicole Sarauer defeated the Sask. Party’s Nadeem Naz in Regina Douglas Park. She was first elected as an MLA there in 2016.

The NDP’s Meara Conway will be the new face for Regina Elphinstone-Centre, earning 1,899 votes with 42 of 47 polls counted. The NDP’s Warren McCall had previously held the seat since 2001 before deciding not to seek re-election in 2020.

“I’m feeling a little tired but ecstatic. I’m really proud of my team and really proud of the campaign that Ryan (Meili) and the NDP have run,” Conway said. “I think the NDP has articulated an alternative here (in Saskatchewan). I think that has resonated with a lot of people across the province. That certainly resonated in my riding.

“We know we have an addiction and mental health crisis. I think we feel that a little sharper and a little harder in Regina Elphinstone. Child poverty rates are quite high (and) food bank use is quite high. This is a community that understands the sharp edge of the Sask. Party government perhaps better than any other.”

Cesar Khan (Sask. Party) finished second, with Green Party Leader Naomi Hunter third.

Gene Makowsky of the Sask. Party retained his seat in Regina Gardiner Park, earning 3,591 votes with 48 of 49 polls counted. Faycall Haggui (NDP) came second with 1,866 votes.

Carla Beck won Regina Lakeview once again for the NDP with 2,786 votes with 46 of 49 polls reporting. Megan Patterson of the Sask. Party was second with 1,573 votes.

“I’m very grateful and honoured to have this opportunity again,” Beck said. “I expect that in many of those (close ridings), even if (NDP candidates) didn’t quite get across the finish line this time, they will see gains. There were some incredible campaigns that went on. I know every one of our candidates worked hard, some for years ahead.”

The Sask. Party’s Gary Grewal won Regina Northeast, earning more than 3,200 votes to defeat incumbent Yans Pedersen of the NDP. Pedersen won the seat in a 2018 by-election against Grewal.

“I had made a promise that day that I would bring this seat back to Saskatchewan Party and with the support and love of all the people in Regina Northeast, I’ve been able to do it,” Grewal said.

In 2016, Regina Pasqua saw the Sask. Party’s Muhammad Fiaz win by just 298 votes. Late Monday night, Fiaz had pulled out in front of the NDP’s Bhajan Brar.

In Regina Rochdale, Laura Ross defeated the NDP’s Brett Estey for a second straight election, earning 4,782 votes with 69 of 70 polls reporting.

Trent Wotherspoon of the NDP won the Regina Rosemont riding once again. Wotherspoon has been the MLA there since 2007. The Sask. Party’s Alex Nau finished second.

The Sask. Party’s Derek Meyers claimed victory in the Regina Walsh Acres riding, defeating the NDP’s Kelly Hardy, independent Sandra Morin and Progressive Conservative Leader Ken Grey.

Christine Tell of the Sask. Party cruised to victory in her riding of Regina Wascana Plains, following up her previous win in 2016. She earned over 5,920 votes. The NDP’s Mike Sinclair finished second.