It was a neck-and-neck race in Burnaby-Lougheed, with results pouring in throughout the evening, and the gap between the Liberals and NDP often fewer than 100 votes.
Liberal candidate Ken Kramer watched the results coming in at his campaign office, with supporters feasting on pizza and chicken wings, but the office of NDP candidate Jane Shin was closed. Shin's campaign manager told the NOW she was spending the evening at the Burnaby Edmonds office of Raj Chouhan.
Kramer started off with a slight lead on Shin, but as more results came in, the NDP candidate pulled ahead, first by fewer than 100 votes, then by a spread of roughly 400. But then Kramer was closing in. At press time, the gap between the two was just 466 votes with Shin in the lead.
"I think it's pretty obvious it's a tight riding," Kramer said. "We kind of had that sense that it was going to be really close. I'm not surprised. ... We're just going to hope for the best. We ran a really good campaign."
Kramer hadn't given up hope of winning.
"Anything's possible," said the first-time candidate. "I already feel like a winner, I had a great experience, but it's not over yet."
At press time, when 122 of 129 ballot boxes were in, Shin, with 7,266 votes, had a lead on Kramer, who had 6,800 votes.
Green candidate Darwin Burns had 1,360 votes, and Christine Clarke had 1,377 votes. Clarke is a B.C. Conservative but she was listed with no affiliation on the ballot because her party failed to file the proper paperwork in time.
The Burnaby-Lougheed riding used to be held by Liberal Harry Bloy, who did not run again after a series of gaffes. Bloy was present at Kramer's office amongst supporters and told the NOW we were "not welcome."
Meanwhile, Shin was unavailable for comment.
"She's with friends and family right now," said her campaign manager Sage Aaron, "and I don't think she's going to be available for comment tonight. A lot of MLAs are spending time with their friends and family, and I think this has been a very tough campaign, and she's taking the time to spend time with her friends and family to take a look at the next few months and weeks and years and what's coming in the future, and how to deal with that. I imagine she'll be available to comment soon."
Aaron said that she was proud of the campaign they ran with hard working staff and volunteers. She also noted how close it was.
"Last time it was decided by under 700 votes. It's a swing seat, and it's hard fought," she said.
The Liberals worked hard, targeting Shin, questioning her professional background and credentials. When asked if that impacted the campaign, Aaron said it was tough.
"I'm proud of the positive campaign the B.C. NDP ran. I think this was a little bit of election silly season. Things happen in this kind of format that don't happen normally, so it was tough, it was definitely tough. I'm proud of the fact we kept our heads high. ... The people of Burnaby-Lougheed have spoken.
"Assuming the lead stays, I couldn't be happier with the local results. Obviously I'm not as happy with the provincial results."
Despite predictions that the NDP would form government, the Liberals were leading with 50 seats at press time while the NDP held 33. The Greens managed to land one seat.
