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John Hogan is Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier-designate, Liberals announce

The Liberal Party announced Saturday afternoon that John Hogan received the most votes from party members, and will be the party’s new leader. Hogan will remain premier at least until a general election is called later this year.

John Abbott and John Hogan were the 2 contenders for province's top job

Man hugging child
John Hogan hugged his daughter seconds after his win was announced on Saturday. (Malone Mullin/CBC)

The Liberal Party has voted in John Hogan as the new premier-designate of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Winning over an electorate of nearly 14,000 registered Liberals, Hogan rose to power by a wide margin, capturing close to 78 per cent of the vote.

His sole competitor, John Abbott, secured around 22 per cent.

Hogan delivered his first address as premier-designate at the JAG Soundhouse in downtown St. John's Saturday, to chanting and cheers from party members.

"It's an incredible honour," he said. "I recognize it comes with heavy responsibility.... We will build a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador." 

WATCH | The moment John Hogan won the leadership contest:

John Hogan announced as N.L. Liberal leader and premier-designate

13 hours ago
Duration 1:07
Ashley Power-Stack announces the results of the Liberal leadership contest in Newfoundland and Labrador. John Hogan won with around 77% of the vote.

The 47-year-old lawyer, who first entered provincial politics four years ago, says he'll bring steady and informed leadership through fresh ideas, and will build on the work of former premier Andrew Furey, who triggered the leadership race when he announced his resignation earlier this year.

In his acceptance speech Saturday, Hogan touched on the province's challenges of the moment, including Canada's rocky relationship with the United States, the cost of living crisis and Newfoundland and Labrador's persistent debt load.

"We already have two strikes against us," said Hogan, referring to tumultuous past deals largely viewed to have wrecked the provincial ledger: the 1969 Churchill Falls agreement and the wildly expensive Muskrat Falls hydroelectricity project.

He added he's committed to negotiating final agreements with Quebec on last year's Churchill Falls MOU to get "the best deal" for the province.

"We cannot afford a new third strike," he said.

Minutes after Hogan's win, Abbott congratulated the premier-designate, saying he's "more than willing, and wanting to work with" the new party leader.

Abbott told CBC News he was anticipating more votes from his fellow Liberals, however.

"Obviously my messaging didn't resonate as much as we thought it had," he said.

WATCH | John Hogan delivers his first speech as premier-designate:

N.L. premier-designate John Hogan delivers his first speech after winning leadership contest

13 hours ago
Duration 9:40
John Hogan takes the stage moments after learning that he won the Liberal leadership contest and will become Newfoundland and Labrador’s next premier.

Once Hogan is sworn in, he'll become Newfoundland and Labrador's 15th premier — but will soon have to test his mettle in an upcoming general election, which must take place before October. 

Leadership race launched after Furey stepped down

The race for the Liberal leadership began after Furey announced his resignation in February. He held the province's top job for nearly five years, taking over as Liberal leader and premier in 2020 and then winning a general election in 2021.

Furey, a surgeon by trade, said at the time he'd accomplished his political goals, and wished to spend more time with his family and return to the operating room.

In a farewell speech to party members Friday night, he thanked his wife and children at length for their patience while he worked away from home.

"If there are times in the last five years that I wasn't there for you, please know that I carried you in my heart everywhere I went and always will," Furey said.

But after leading the province through a pandemic and resulting economic turmoil, his decision came as a shock to even his closest members of cabinet.

It also launched a search for candidates within caucus. 

WATCH | The CBC's Julia Israel reports on John Hogan's win:

John Hogan will be the next N.L. premier

11 hours ago
Duration 2:21
John Hogan won the Liberal Leadership Convention in downtown St. John’s on Saturday. In his first-ever speech as premier-designate, Hogan said U.S. tariffs, health care, and support for seniors are top issues. But bringing the Churchill Falls deal through to the finish line is his main priority ahead of the next provincial election. The CBC’s Julia Israel reports.

Abbott was the first to announce his intentions to run, marking his second attempt at becoming premier.

He previously ran against Furey to lead the party in 2020, and after his loss held several portfolios within Furey's cabinet, serving as minister of social development, transportation, and housing and mental health.

Hogan announced his intention to run soon after, at an event with his fellow Liberal MHAs in attendance. 

He first became an MHA in 2021 after beating out Progressive Conservative Ches Crosbie in the district of Windsor Lake. Since then, he's been the House leader, as well as the minister of both justice and health.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Scarborough, Ont., Malone Mullin is a CBC News reporter in St. John's. She previously worked in Vancouver and Toronto. Reach her at malone.mullin@cbc.ca.