Liberals request recount in Yarmouth after party leader Zach Churchill’s election loss

The Liberal Leader Zach Churchill’s campaign has requested a judicial recount following his narrow defeat in the recent provincial election. Despite the loss, his official agent does not anticipate the result to change.

In the electoral district of Yarmouth, Churchill was defeated by Progressive Conservative challenger Nick Hilton by just 14 votes. This loss was part of a larger trend, as the Liberals dropped 14 seats overall in the election, leaving them with only two seats in the Nova Scotia Legislature.

David Sollows, Churchill’s official agent, pointed out glitches in the computer systems in Yarmouth during the campaign, which led to discrepancies in the reported numbers on election night compared to the final tallies. For instance, at one point, both Churchill and Hilton were shown to have 5,000 votes each, but the final count revealed Hilton with 3,663 votes and Churchill with 3,649.

Sollows emphasized the importance of ensuring the integrity of the election results for the supporters and donors of Churchill’s campaign, which is the primary motivation behind the request for a recount.

The deadline for requesting a recount was Monday, and a judge will oversee the process, which must be completed within eight days. An automatic recount will also take place in the electoral district of Annapolis, where PC challenger David Bowlby defeated Liberal incumbent Carman Kerr by just seven votes.

The Progressive Conservatives secured a majority government in the election, increasing their seat count to 43. The NDP also made gains, becoming the Official Opposition with nine seats. Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin was re-elected as an Independent in Cumberland North.

Churchill is expected to announce his future as leader of the party this week. Even if he is successful in the recount and retains his seat, party rules mandate a leadership review after an election that does not result in forming government. Members of the party, including former leader Iain Rankin, have expressed the need for a rebuild.

Overall, the recount process and potential leadership changes signal a period of reflection and restructuring for the Liberal Party in Nova Scotia.