Author: Noah Fry, PhD Candidate, Political Science, McMaster University

Make no mistake, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs lost big on Monday night. The province’s voters delivered a forceful rebuke of Higgs’ Progressive Conservatives similar to the 1995 election, when the party won only six seats against Frank McKenna’s Liberals. This time, the PCs were reduced to 16 seats while the Liberals won 31. The Greens dropped to two seats. This seat count downplays the Liberals’ 13-point popular vote lead in a tough political environment. Historically, the Liberals have had inefficient support that’s been concentrated in safe francophone ridings. This time, they made inroads with anglophones beyond Moncton. Higgs, among…