The United Conservative Party (UCP) and Premier Danielle Smith have won re-election in Alberta.
Unofficial results show Smith and her political party elected or leading in 50 ridings, which would give her majority control of Alberta’s 87-seat provincial legislature.
Smith and the UCP survived a challenge from the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) and its leader Rachel Notley.
Notley has reportedly conceded the election to Premier Smith but vowed to remain leader of the Official Opposition in the province.
The NDP was hoping to end Smith's eight-month rule after the former head of the ultra-conservative Wildrose Party won the UCP leadership race last October.
The NDP is expected to win some new seats in the province, including Sherwood Park, Calgary-Varsity and Calgary-Falconridge, but failed to win control of the legislature for a second consecutive election.
Smith called for party unity and promised to work on affordability, public safety and improving the economy going forward. She also pledged to fight Ottawa on energy policies.
The UCP and NDP were the only political parties to run a full slate of 87 candidates in the province-wide election. The Green Party ran 41 candidates and the Alberta Party and Liberals ran 19 and 15 candidates respectively.
