Tories easily hold Humber West

The Progressive Conservative Party in Newfoundland and Labrador has held on to the seat that was left vacant when former premier Danny Williams left politics in December.

Vaughn Granter, a high school principal, soundly defeated his two opponents in Tuesday night's byelection in the west coast district of Humber West.

Granter received 2,109 of the 3,318 votes cast.

Liberal candidate Mark Watton, a lawyer who grew up in Corner Brook but is now based in Toronto, came in second with 1,097 votes.

New Democrat Rosie Myers, a university student, received 112 votes.

Williams had held the seat since winning a byelection in 2001. Two years later, Williams led to the Tories to its first general election win in 14 years.

Once Granter is sworn in, the Tories will hold 43 of the 48 seats in the house of assembly. The Liberals hold four seats, and the NDP has one seat.