2007 Belfast-Murray River provincial by-election

A provincial by-election was held in Prince Edward Island on October 15, 2007, to fill the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly riding of Belfast-Murray River. It was called by Premier Robert Ghiz on September 17, 2007.[1][2]

2007 Belfast-Murray River provincial by-election

← May 2007 October 15, 2007 (2007-10-15) 2011 →

Riding of Belfast-Murray River
  First party Second party
 
Lib
PC
Candidate Charlie McGeoghegan Darlene Compton
Party Liberal Progressive Conservative
Popular vote 1,259 828
Percentage 54.95% 36.15%
Swing Increase 14.14pp Decrease 19.01pp

MLA before election

Pat Binns
Progressive Conservative

Elected MLA

Charlie McGeoghegan
Liberal

The by-election was caused by the decision of PC MLA and former Premier Pat Binns to resign after he was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Ireland by Stephen Harper, following his election loss in the 2007 provincial election.

The Liberal candidate was Charlie McGeoghegan, who had come within 400 votes of defeating Binns in the provincial election.[1][2] The PC candidate was chosen on September 21, 2007, while both the NDP and the Greens had announced their candidates, as well; a former Liberal ran as an independent.[3][4]

McGeoghegan won the byelection, defeating Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton by over 400 votes.[5][6]

Results

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Prince Edward Island provincial by-election, 15 October 2007: Belfast-Murray River
On the appointment of Pat Binns as Ambassador to Ireland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charlie McGeoghegan 1,259 54.95 +14.14
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 828 36.15 −19.01
Independent Andy Clarey 107 4.67
Green Ahmon Katz 83 3.62 −0.42
New Democratic Jane McNeil 10 0.44
Total valid votes 2,287 100.0  
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +16.58
Source: Elections PEI

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ghiz calls byelection for former Binns district". CBC News. September 18, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Belfast-Murray River residents heading back to voting booth". The Guardian. Charlottetown. September 18, 2007. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "Clarey to run as independent in Belfast-Murray River". CBC News. September 26, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "NDP announce byelection candidate". CBC News. September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  5. ^ "Liberals win P.E.I. byelection". CBC News. October 15, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Thibodeau, Wayne (October 16, 2007). "McGeoghegan adds to Liberals power in the P.E.I. legislature". The Guardian. Charlottetown, PE. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016.