NDP retains seat in Saskatoon Meewasin byelection

The NDP claimed victory in the Saskatoon Meewasin byelection Monday, holding on to the seat left vacant by former leader Ryan Meili.

After all 53 ballot boxes were counted Monday, the NDP’s Nathaniel Teed had 56.7 per cent of the vote, with nearest rival Kim Groff of the Saskatchewan Party at 37.0 per cent.

Teed and Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck entered the Parktown Hotel on Spadina Crescent in Saskatoon to a wall of supporters cheering, clapping and waving large orange lawn signs. A chant of “NDP” from the crowd arose as the two made their way to the podium.

“I’m excited to get down to work tomorrow and represent the people of Saskatoon Meewasin,” Teed said after his victory was announced.

In his speech to those gathered Monday night, Teed thanked his supporters, his team and his partner, James.

“Now you’ll get to join the MLA spousal support group,” Teed joked, speaking to his partner from the podium.

Teed thanked his partner for keeping their lives together during his campaign and shared that, between the two of them, it was debatable who was more invested in his campaign.

“Our party is more energized than ever.”

The crowd at Sask. NDP headquarters welcoming leader Carla Beck and newly-elected Nathaniel Teed at the Parktown Hotel in Saskatoon.

“Tonight, we’re putting (the Sask Party) on notice,” Beck tells her cheering supporters. pic.twitter.com/q8tFjEjWZT

— Libby Giesbrecht (@GiesbrechtLibby) September 27, 2022

Teed said the key issues he wants to focus on are health care, education and affordability — with education close to his heart as a former teacher.

The newly elected MLA said he feels his party’s message has been resonating with voters.

“The work is going to be tough but we’re going to do the work, we’re going to get down to the table, meet people and continue to hear their concerns,” Teed told reporters, crediting his party’s team of volunteers for connecting with voters through the NDP’s vision for the province and getting people to the polls.

He also called the night “a really big win for representation,” being the first openly gay MLA to be elected in the province.

“I think it will continue to open the door to ensure that our legislature is representative of the people it serves,” Teed said.

The new MLA said he was surrounded by seniors when he realized that he’d claimed victory in the byelection.

“There was a lot of momentum in the advance polls … We were in some of the seniors buildings and we kept seeing seniors in the hallways with their voter cards saying ‘I voted for you,’ and we could feel that momentum,” Teed said.

Meili barely held on to his seat in the 2020 general election, with only a few hundred votes between the two main parties. This time, Teed managed a more comfortable victory with 2,624 votes to Groff’s 1,712.

Congratulations @nathaniel_teed and the @Sask_NDP team!

The people of Saskatoon Meewasin have chosen themselves a terrific MLA!

— Ryan Meili (@ryanmeili) September 27, 2022

However, the win for the NDP changes little in the legislature given that it was already a seat held by the opposition.

The entire count remains 48 for the Saskatchewan Party, 12 for the NDP and one independent.

There was little impact made by the other parties in the Saskatoon Meewasin byelection. Liberal Leader Jeff Walters took 2.6 per cent of the vote, the Buffalo Party’s Mark Friesen had 2.4 per cent and Jacklin Andrews of the Green Party was at 1.2 per cent.

Beck said this win is just the start for the province’s NDP.

“We believe we have … a better path for the people of Saskatchewan,” Beck shared.

“We’re not satisfied with adding one more member. We are very serious about doing the work … in order to be able to be in a position to deliver that right alternative, that positive alternative to the Sask. Party in 2024.”

Beck also spoke of Teed’s enthusiasm and positivity throughout his campaign.

“It was easy to work hard for this candidate and this team,” she said.

The final result won’t be known until Oct. 8, when the count and all mail-in ballots are confirmed.