'It hurts': NDP shut out of downtown Toronto in Liberal crush

A Liberalwave washed over downtown Toronto on Monday night, turning the entire city red and pushing every sitting local NDP MP from their seats.

The NDP lost former party leaderJack Layton's old seat inToronto-Danforth asJulieDabrusintook the riding from NDP candidate Craig Scott,winning by more than 2,000 votes.

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Other NDP incumbents who lost to the Liberals on election night were Peggy Nash inParkdaleHigh Park,MatthewKellwayin BeachesEast York, and Andrew Cash in Davenport.

Andrew Thomson, a candidate for the NDP inEglinton-Lawrence, came in third place behind Joe Oliver, a finance minister in the Conservative government, and the winner, Liberal Marco Mendicino.

"It hurts a bit. Let's be honest, we lost a lot of good MPs last night," said Thomson on Metro Morning.

Thomson admitted the NDP could've been stronger on infrastructure investment policy, but he mostly chalked up his loss to the desire for change.

"We just lost because of the strategic voting," he said. "The good news is we got half of what we asked for, which is a change in government."

Anotherdecisive Liberal win came inSpadinaFort York, where Layton's widow, Olivia Chow, lost to former Toronto city councillorAdam Vaughan.

Speaking onMetro Morning, Vaughan said he noticed "a transformation" among downtown voters in recent weeks, with many NDP supportersswitching their allegiance to the Liberals as election day drew near.

"It was quite a transformation over the last few weeks," a hoarse-voiced Vaughan told Metro Morning host Matt Galloway. "I remember walking up Crawford Street and people were literally coming out on their porches and saying 'Take the orange sign down and put a red one up.'And I remember turning to the person campaigning with me and saying 'You have no idea what that feels like as a candidate. You know you've won."

Galloway asked Vaughan if the Liberals' success in the city,and the NDP's poor showing,was mainly the result of progressive voters looking to block a return to power by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

"There are progressive votes in Toronto and they started having a conversation about what makes parliament work," said Vaughan. "It was important that the Liberals finished ahead of the Conservatives and that brought some people with us."

In her concession speech, Chow said she will "support (Vaughan) in progressive change," and encouraged her supporters to do the same.

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"The results tonight may not have been what we had hoped for, but I ask you to join me as I congratulate Adam Vaughan onrunning a good campaign," Chow said.

Vaughansaid a Liberal majority government in Ottawa is well-positioned to help Toronto and other cities.

"I think what you're going to see from the federal government is a step up on urban issues, on transit and housing in particular," he said.

In another NDP ouster, New Democrat MP Mike Sullivan lost to Liberal Ahmed Hussenin York South-Weston. With the win, Hussen became the first-ever Somali-Canadian MP.