Liberal Jenica Atwin beats Conservative Andrea Johnson after mail-in votes counted

Liberal candidate Jenica Atwin has defeated Conservative Andrea Johnson in the tight Fredericton election race. 

Atwin's lead ticked up to 502 votes over Johnson as Elections Canada counted mail-in ballots Wednesday morning. CBC's decision desk projected Atwin the winner.

At the same time, Green candidate Nicole O'Byrne moved into third place in the count. On Monday night, O'Byrne was in fourth behind NDP candidate Shawn Oldenburg.

Atwin had 37 per cent of the vote at noon Wednesday compared with 35.9 per cent for Johnson. O'Byrne had 12.9 per cent and Oldenburg had 12.6 per cent.

Atwin and Conservative candidate Andrea Johnson were still vying for seat in Fredericton two days after the federal election was held. (Elections Canada)

Fredericton was one of 14 ridings across the country where the CBC decision desk had not projected a winner because the number of mail-in ballots was high relative to the margins between the first and second-place candidates.

Mail-in ballots cast by voters who were in their home ridings could only be validated and counted beginning on Tuesday.

Atwin says decision to switch parties was 'best choice for Fredericton'2 days agoLiberal MP Jenica Atwin spoke at her campaign headquarters in Fredericton on election night. 1:58

Atwin won the riding for the Greens in 2019 but defected to the Liberals in June and became their candidate for the election.

She became the sixth Liberal candidate to win in New Brunswick. The Conservatives won the other four ridings.

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