- Conservative candidate defeats incumbent Ramsey -
by Sylene Argent
“Tonight, we voted for change. Tonight, we voted for our future. Tonight, I am proud to say that I am ready and excited to be your voice in Ottawa,” Chris Lewis (Conservative) said after learning he won the Essex Riding after the unofficial Federal Election results were released on Monday evening. “I don’t take this responsibility lightly, and you have my word, that I will represent this region with dignity, honour, and respect.
“This election has never been about me, it’s been about you, it’s been about Essex, Ontario, Canada, and -quite frankly - the world. Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, I roll up my sleeves and I get to work for our families, small businesses, seniors, our friends, and you.”
The unofficial election results for Monday’s Federal Election showed Lewis defeated incumbent Tracey Ramsey (NDP) by nealry 4780 votes, with Lewis earning around 28,100 votes and Ramsey earning around 23,350. Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga earned around 12,800, Green candidate Jennifer Alderson earned around 2100, and PPC candidate Bill Capes earned around 1200.
The unofficial voter turnout in the Essex Riding was 66.26 percent, not including voters who registered on election day.
During his victory speech, Lewis thanked his family members for their support and the many volunteers who worked on his campaign for their dedication over the past several months.
“This has been nothing less than a complete team-effort,” he said, “and tonight is not my victory, it is all of yours.”
Lewis also congratulated fellow candidates on running clean campaigns. “I know that it is a huge sacrifice to run for public office and I commend each and every one of you on running a clean campaign, as did we.”
He then thanked Ramsey “for four years of dedicated service to Essex.” Ramsey defeated Conservative rep Jeff Watson in the 2015 Federal Election by nearly 3500 votes.
On behalf of his family and his campaign team, Lewis thanked everyone for making his dream a reality, “a dream to serve the residents of Essex once again and a passion to leave the world a better place than I found it.”
Lewis later told reporters he is excited to get to work for Essex and to start putting the area back on the map.
According to unofficial Elections Canada results on Tuesday, the Liberal Party earned a minority government with 157 seats, down from 184 in 2015. Conservatives earned 121, the BQ earned 32, the NDP earned 24, and one Independent candidate was voted in.