NDP a distant second

Photo: Wayne Moore

UPDATE: 11 p.m.

Disappointing.

That's how Kelowna West NDP riding association president Karen Abramsen described the results of Wednesday's byelection.

NDP candidate Shelley Cook ran a distant second to Liberal Ben Stewart, achieving less than 24 per cent of the total votes cast, a smaller percentage than last year's general election.

Many supporters at a post-election event at Riley's Pub believed the party would be able to do better than the 25 per cent from last May, and perhaps get close to the 30 per cent of popular vote during elections in 2009 and 2013.

"We thought we would do better because we're in government, but, we always live in the world of optimism in elections here in Kelowna," said Abramsen.

"We put up a hell of a good fight and Shelley was a tremendous candidate."

Abramsen said she was surprised the party's vote total did remain flat given the fact the party is now in power in the legislature.

However, she believes factoring in the Green Party votes did make a difference.

"The Green Party had a good campaign too. The difference is we both had excellent candidates, so, that's just the nature of the beast.

"That's why I think we have to look mat proportional representation. This first-past-the-post stuff just doesn't work."

UPDATE: 10:18 p.m.

The NDP's Shelley Cook garnered about 24 per cent of voters in Wednesday's Kelowna West byelection.

Preliminary numbers now all polling stations have reported.

Ben Stewart (BC Liberal): 7,692

Shelley Cook (NDP): 3,197

Robert Stupka (Green): 1,727

Mark Thompson (BC Conservative): 898

Kyle Geronazzo (Libertarian): 110

ORIGINAL: 8:40 p.m.

A small group of supporters is awaiting byelection results in Kelowna West at Shelley Cook's NDP camp.

Cook has yet to arrive at Riley's Pub.

There is cautious optimism in the room.

Supporters believe they will benefit from what people in the riding have seen an NDP government can do for them.

Castanet's Wayne Moore says they've been hearing positive feedback from people on the streets.

More updates to come as results roll in.

– with files from Wayne Moore