The United Conservative Party has been projected to form a second consecutive majority government in Alberta.
With 70 per cent of polls reporting late Monday, the UCP led or were projected to win 52 of 87 ridings, with the Alberta NDP slotting back into the opposition, leading or projected to win 35 seats.
Premier-elect Danielle Smith comfortably won her riding in Brooks—Medicine Hat with 13,237 votes, ahead of NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk finishing second with just 5,451 votes. Alberta Party candidate Barry Morishita rounded out the top three with 1,228 votes.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley also swept to victory in her riding of Edmonton—Strathcona with 10,322 votes, ahead of UCP candidate Emad El-Zien finishing with 2,342 votes, good enough for second place. In her concession speech, she said she is staying on as leader of the opposition.
As of 11 p.m. Monday, approximately 1.25 million votes had been tabulated across Alberta, for an unofficial turnout of 44.54 per cent.
