She is the first woman to win the leadership of the party in the province. He won on the third ballot with 51.67 percent of the vote. Former Liberal MP TJ Harvey was the runner-up. Holt will lead the party into the next election against the ruling Progressive Conservatives now led by Prime Minister Blaine Higgs. Holt is hugged by former Deputy Gov. Aldéa Landry after winning the leadership. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The former business leader and one-time adviser to ex-prime minister Brian Gallant pitched herself as someone who would bring a fresh approach to politics, a theme she reiterated in her victory speech. “The people of New Brunswick have told us they’re tired of politics as usual. They’re tired of conflict and fighting. They’re tired of partisanship,” he said. “They want to see something different. We can be the party that leads a change for a new politics in New Brunswick that is transparent, authentic, compassionate and collaborative.” In part, Holt’s victory was based on being the second or third choice between two of the other candidates. The party used preferential voting, meaning members who voted last week ranked their first, second, third and fourth choice for leader. To emerge the winner, a candidate needed 50 percent of the vote. Former cabinet minister Donald Arseneault and current MLA Robert Gauvin were the others on the ballot. The bold change starts now! I am humbled to have earned your trust as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party. I have been loud and clear that I want to change the way we do politics. And I am so grateful that you do too. pic.twitter.com/JM2jcwJl7g —@susanholt In the first round of voting, Harvey had 33.9 percent, Holt 32.12 percent, Govin had 19.76 percent and Arsenault had 14.22 percent of the points awarded in the weighted system party vote. Arseneault was withdrawn from the ballot and the votes were reallocated. Harvey garnered 39.58 percent on the second ballot, while Holt had 36.76 percent and Govin 23.67 percent. Govin fell off the ballot. Holt said she had “a lot of conversations” with people who chose Govin or Arsenault first, but who were also interested in her as a potential leader.

Harvey unattached

Harvey said despite his defeat, he was optimistic about the Liberals’ prospects, though he would not commit to running in the next election. “It’s definitely not the result we expected,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all still a family, and I think that was really healthy for the party.” Harvey said his support in the first two rounds was where his team thought it was, but with two candidates eliminated at that point “it’s really hard to gauge where you think third-ballot support could go.” University of Moncton political scientist Roger Ouellette said Holt’s victory was a watershed moment for the Liberals. Saint John MLA Shirley Dysart briefly led as interim party leader in 1985, but Saturday’s result is the first time party members have elected a woman to the role. “Maybe we’ll see after the next general election that we’ll have another first with a woman as prime minister,” Ouellette said.