Expert predicts NDP victory in final hours of Manitoba election

After a month of campaign stops and promises, we will finally discover which party will be leading Manitoba into the next four years.

Despite entering as neck-and-neck favourites, political analysts are predicting Wab Kinew and the NDP will put an end to the seven-year reign of the Progressive Conservatives.

“Given the amount of polls that we have, it is looking like the NDP have pulled ahead, and they have really pulled ahead in Winnipeg. So there is a chance that we are going to see some individual races shack out in unexpected ways, but right now the smart money is on an NDP win tonight,” said Royce Koop, professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

Koop says like past elections, this one will likely be won or lost in Winnipeg and will be keeping an eye on the ridings of Waverly, Southdale, and McPhillips. All three have been Tory strongholds, that could turn orange this time around.

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“As the Tories have fallen behind in Winnipeg, seats that we would have thought as safe Tory seats or at least safer Tory seats are going to be up for grabs tonight,” explained Koop.

Another riding to keep an eye on Thursday night will be St. Boniface, where Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont is facing serious pressure from the NDP, which Koop says could have major ramifications on the party’s future in the province.

“I think Dougald Lamont is in serious trouble tonight, it’s going to be an uphill battle for him. And it is going to have big consequences for the Manitoba Liberal Party.”

Polls close across Manitoba at 8 p.m.