The provincial riding of London North Centre has historically been a long-time Liberal stronghold. Deb Matthews held the seat comfortably from 2003 until she declined re-election in 2018. That’s when Terence Kernaghan was elected with 47.6% of the vote, followed by Susan Truppe of the Progressive Conservatives and Graham in third with only 15.71%.
“When I look at London North Center, I do feel like a lot of those NDP votes were just temporarily parked with the NDP,” says Matt Farrell, a professor of political science at Fanshawe College.
“I feel like they were just out of dissatisfaction with Kathleen Wynn and the Liberal government. I think that’s what led to some of the NDP surge around the province but also here in London as well,” says Professor Farrell. “The Liberals and the Conservatives both think they have a good chance to take it from the NDP, and I think they could be right, I think it’s going to be a competitive race.”
The party leaders seem to think so as well. Not only did PC leader Doug Ford make a stop in the riding a few weeks ago, so did Liberal leader Stephen Del Duca and federal NDP party leader Jagmeet Singh.
Four previous candidates are returning this election: the NDP incumbent Terence Kernaghan, Liberal Kate Graham, Carol Dyck for the Green Party, and Paul McKeever for the Freedom Party.
via votekate.ca
From Twitter (@jerrypribilpc)
from ola.org
Terence Kernaghan was an elementary school teacher and librarian before being elected to the riding in 2018.
The Progressive Conservatives chose Jerry Pribil, who owns the Marienbad Restaurant and Chaucer’s Pub in downtown London and a long-time staple of the restaurant industry.
Kate Graham ran for the Liberals in the 2018 election and holds a PhD in political science. She also ran for the Liberal Party leadership in 2020.
The other candidates vying for the riding are:
- Carol Dyck for the Green Party.
- Daryl Grant for the Ontario Party.
- George Le Mac who is running as an independent.
- Paul McKeever for the Freedom party.
- Tommy Caldwell for the New Blue.
The election is on June 2 and advanced voting ends on Mar 28.
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