BREAKING: Pierre Poilievre wins crucial byelection, regains seat in Parliament

The seat became available earlier this year when Conservative MP Damien Kurek stepped aside following the spring general election, opening the door for Poilievre to run in the rural Alberta riding.

Pierre's wife Anaida posted on X shortly after the results were projected:

"Politics is up and down. People do it because they believe in something. It is built by people with strong conviction and fire in their belly, willing to sacrifice to fight for what they believe is right. It is not for everyone. It is not easy. But it is worth it. It has its ugly sides, and its beautiful ones. Holding people in my arms at rallies, giving them hope, is one of the most beautiful connections I've ever felt, aside from the connection with my children and family.

"It also has its ugly side. Friendships come and go as if dictated by the polls. Just like the weather, people come and go. So remember, family is everything. And fighting for hope is still worth it all.

"We are The Poilievres, and we are built on resilience, courage, and love for you all.

"We're back. Xo"

Poilievre, who had represented Carleton in the Ottawa region for seven consecutive elections before losing to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy in April, was declared the winner by The Canadian Press on Monday night.

With just under 20 percent of polls reporting an hour after voting ended, Poilievre was already ahead by roughly 5,500 votes, putting the race firmly in his hands.

The ballot itself drew unusual attention, featuring a record 214 candidates. Most of those names came from the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest initiative calling for electoral reform and an end to Canada’s first-past-the-post system.

Earlier in the evening, Poilievre urged Albertans to head to the polls.

Poilievre’s win also comes at a pivotal moment for Canada’s political landscape, as former Bank of Canada governor and current PM Mark Carney — seen by some Liberals as a future standard-bearer — appears increasingly isolated from the orbit of Donald Trump’s resurgent movement in the United States and the world.