In the Oct. 21 election, the Liberals won in 31 ridings, the incumbent Progressive Conservatives in 16 ridings, and the Greens in two ridings.
Incumbent Premier and Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs lost in his own riding of Quispamsis to the Liberal candidate. He said he will be starting the process of a “leadership transition” for his party in the days ahead.
Green Party Leader David Coon won in his riding of Fredericton-Lincoln. Holt also won in her riding of Fredericton South-Silverwood.
Holt, a former civil servant, business consultant, and adviser to former Liberal Premier Brian Gallant, became the leader of the Liberals in 2022. At the time, she wasn’t a member of the provincial legislature, but became an MLA in a 2023 byelection.
“Tonight’s results make it clear: New Brunswickers are ready for a change,” Holt said in her victory speech on Oct. 21. “We don’t take it lightly that you have put your trust in myself and my team, and that you have hope for a brighter future, but that hope I know is short lived, and it is going to be on us to deliver authentically on the ground.”
Holt said she will abide by a “couple of commitments” during her tenure as premier.
“We are going to lead with balance. We’re going to watch the bottom line and deliver fiscal responsibility while we invest in the services that you need, like health care and education and an affordable place to call home,” she said.
She also thanked her competitors for their service.
“I would also like to thank Mr. Blaine Higgs for his service to New Brunswick over these past six years, and offer my congratulations to David Coon on his re-election,” she said.
Higgs, a retired Irving Oil executive, first became an MLA in 2010 and went on to become leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 2016. He became premier in 2018 after his party formed a minority government, and kept the post after the 2020 election, this time with a majority government.
In his post-election speech, Higgs congratulated Holt on her victory and wished her success.
“Susan, you’ve earned the trust of the people, and I wish her here every success [as] she takes on the challenges that lie ahead,” he said on Oct. 21.
Higgs said that during his time as premier, his government helped make New Brunswick more prosperous.
“We have a foundation to build on economically, a province that was severely in debt and spiralling in the wrong direction. We’ve certainly seen investment that has grown in our province, to private sectors coming here, and setting up record number of kids in schools,” he said.
“May God—[we] ask his blessing certainly on this province. We have a wonderful province. We have a lot to be thankful for.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Holt on her win.
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