N.S. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill loses seat as party support crumbles

In a stunning turn of events, Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill has lost his seat in Yarmouth in Tuesday’s provincial election. This loss not only signifies a major blow to Churchill personally but also highlights the significant drop in support for the Liberal party across the province.

The race in Yarmouth was incredibly close, with Progressive Conservative Nick Hilton narrowly defeating Churchill by just 14 votes. This unexpected outcome solidified the Liberals’ fall from Official Opposition status to third place behind the NDP.

Addressing his supporters on Tuesday evening, Churchill took full responsibility for the party’s defeat, stating, “This loss belongs to me and me alone, and I’m OK with that. In life, you can lose, and the most important thing is you get back up, and how you get back up.”

Following his defeat, Churchill announced that he would be taking some time to spend with his family before meeting with the remaining Liberal caucus members to strategize on the party’s way forward. Despite the loss, Churchill expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the people of Yarmouth, a role he held for 14 years.

Churchill has been at the helm of the Liberal party since 2022 and has also served as a cabinet minister in various portfolios under the Stephen McNeil and Iain Rankin governments, including as minister of health and wellness and minister of education. Reflecting on his tenure, Churchill remarked, “I can look back and feel I did what I was supposed to do and to the best of my ability.”

Meanwhile, Premier Tim Houston led the Progressive Conservatives to a second consecutive majority government, securing victory in 43 ridings. The NDP followed with nine seats, while the Liberals trailed behind with only two seats.

One of the two Liberals elected, Derek Mombourquette from Cape Breton, hinted at a potential leadership bid, stating, “We’re into a big rebuild right now, to be honest about it.” Mombourquette narrowly retained his seat in Sydney-Membertou against PC candidate Brian MacArthur.

As the Liberal party faces a period of rebuilding, political scientist Tom Urbaniak emphasized the need for a massive restructuring to regain lost ground. With Churchill’s defeat and the overall decline in Liberal support, the party must now focus on regrouping and redefining its strategy for the future.