Port Coquitlam voters have sent Mike Farnworth back to the B.C. legislature for the seventh time.
As of 10:30 p.m. on election night, the NDP MLA was leading with 61.8% of the vote, well ahead of Liberal challenger Mehran Zargham (22.8%) and the Green Party’s Erik Minty (12.7%).
“It is really an honour and such a privilege to represent Port Coquitlam,” he told the Tri-City News shortly after the news networks called the race for him.
His victory comes as the rest of his party appeared to be headed toward a majority government. However, Farnworth said he was still waiting for all of the ballots — including the record-setting number of mail-in votes — to be counted before celebrating.
“We definitely seem to be have gotten support in places we don’t traditionally get it,” he said. “That is really amazing and it is a testament to [Premier] John Horgan’s leadership.”
Farnworth has run in every general provincial election since 1991, but said the 2020 race, which took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was “far and away the strangest campaign I have ever been in.”
In the past, he has relied heavily on door knocking, starting at the same house at the beginning of the campaign and moving around the riding to engage with residents. However, with physical distancing protocols, he said he was limited to dropping leaflets to get his message out to voters.
“It is not the same as knocking on a door and having a conversation,” he said.
While it may have been the strangest campaign, Farnworth was quick to note that it would not be his last.
“Absolutely,” he told the Tri-City News when asked whether he intended to run again. “Let me put it this way: I am only 61 and Ralph Sultan, the BC Liberal who just retired, is 85.”
BC Liberal challenger Mehran Zargham said he was disappointed in the result, but knew he was in for a tough challenge at the beginning of the race.
He told the Tri-City News that he intends to run again and will stick with the party, which led B.C. between 2001 and 2017, as it seeks to rebuild from the latest defeat.
“You either win, or you learn,” said the 31-year-old candidate. “I definitely learned this time. It was a great opportunity for me.”
IMPORTANT NOTE / NOTE TO READERS about mail-in ballots: Due to the anticipated number of mail-in ballots, the election night vote count will not be complete. The Canadian Press will continue to publish updated riding results to the map and banners as available until counting is complete
