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CTV News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
First-time MP Andrew Lawton wins seat in Elgin-St. Thomas London South
Former journalist and radio host Andrew Lawton has claimed the seat in the new boundary riding of Elgin-St. Thomas London South. Around 11:10 p.m Monday, CTV News declared the riding would stay Conservative blue, shortly after, Lawton arrived at the Columbus Club of St. Thomas to a rousing ovation. He received 50.2 per cent of the vote, defeating David Goodwin who received 43 per cent. 'Every single day we knocked on thousands of doors,' says Lawton, saying he was able to tune out the negativity online surrounding his past by connecting with people in person. 'When you show up at their door and say what matters to you? They have an answer. These are people that oftentimes don't even know whether their issue is with the provincial government, the federal government, and the municipal government. They know that something's not working, and I was really wanting to tell them what my solutions were and what I'm going to do for them if I get elected.' This is the eighth consecutive election this riding has been won by the Conservative Party. 'I would have loved to have seen a Conservative majority government, but at the end of the day, my first priority is to serve the constituents and advocate for the platform that they voted for,' says Lawton. He says the issues is the previous government ignored rural communities, the agricultural sector and manufacturing. He says those are pivotal in this riding. He adds he will be moving into the riding with his wife now that he's been elected. 'This has always been a riding that I wanted to devote my heart and soul to serving,' says Lawton. 'I plan to live in the riding. I plan to serve it, and I plan to do the best job I can'. He also thanked Karen Vecchio for her time serving as a three-term MP and her work with current mayor Joe Preston while he was the MP. 'It was painfully obvious coming into this that there would be big shoes to fill, and I intend to work as hard as I can to ensure that that legacy of community representation is alive and well,' he says
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Elgin-St. Thomas-London South: Ex-radio host Andrew Lawton wins
ST. THOMAS – Controversial Conservative candidate Andrew Lawton was elected MP Tuesday night in a redrawn London-area party stronghold. Polls reported slowly Monday evening, but Lawton never lost his lead over his three opponents in Elgin-St. Thomas-London South – a riding slightly recast and renamed from the former Elgin-Middlesex-London – including Liberal rival David Goodwin. At around 11:10 p.m., applause erupted among about 75 people gathered at an election party at the Columbus Club in St. Thomas amid news the riding had been called for Lawton, a former radio host. Cheers erupted again about five minutes later when Lawton arrived with his wife, a London Free Press employee. Lawton greeted supporters before making his way to the front of the room. 'The people have spoken,' Lawton said. 'This is the honour of a lifetime to be able to serve our riding, to serve our community and to serve our country in the next parliament.' In his speech, Lawton lamented the evening as 'bittersweet,' noting the projected Conservative second-place finish nationwide. Postmedia's decision desk projected Mark Carney's Liberals would form the next government. Lawton commended his opponents, lauding New Democrat Paul Pighin for his advocacy of marginalized communities, People's Party candidate Stephen Campbell for having the 'courage to put his name on a ballot' and Liberal Goodwin for stressing the importance of 'local and community representation in politics.' Goodwin, the only candidate with a real shot to beat Lawton, thanked his volunteers and supporters, acknowledging it was a difficult riding for a Liberal to win. 'I'm very proud of the campaign we ran, and am grateful to our volunteers and supporters,' Goodwin said by email . 'We knew it was an uphill battle, this being a conservative stronghold. It was a great experience.' Lawton continues a legacy of Conservative representation in the area. Before Elgin-St. Thomas-London South was created, Elgin-Middlesex-London was held by Joe Preston, now St. Thomas' mayor, from 2004; Karen Vecchio succeeded Preston in 2015 and retired after a decade in politics.. 'I will fight for this country and you will always have an advocate for freedom as long as I am your member of Parliament,' Lawton told supporters Monday night. Lawton overcame controversy from his past comments to claim victory. It comes seven years after an unsuccessful 2018 for Ontario's Progressive Conservatives in London West. bwilliams@
