Caroline Cochrane is back in as Range Lake MLA after defeating challenger Hughie Graham following a close race Tuesday night.
Cochrane, minister of Education, Culture and Employment and minister responsible for the Status of Women, took in a total of 439 votes.
Newcomer Graham, a senior commercial leasing manager with the territorial government and and past president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, collected 421 votes, 18 fewer than in the incumbent.
Cochrane was first elected to the Legislative Assembly after edging out one-term Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny in 2015 by a slim margin.
Cochrane watched the vote tally role in at an election night party at Stanton Suites Hotel on Range Lake Road.
Amid loud applauds farm supporters, family and friends, thanked the dozens of attendees, calling her campaign staff the "best team ever," while being surrounded by hugs.
Caroline Cochrane shares an embrace with a supporter after defeating Hughie Graham
She's one of several women who will take a seat in the Assembly.
Oct. 1 , 2019.
Cochrane told Yellowknifer the number of female MLA winners was "encouraging."
"This is exciting I think we're really making history and I'm glad to be a part of this.
Honuor to serve you another four years. It's exciting and I think we're truly making history here, she told a group of supporters, who passed out champagne following the win.
"Excitement, knowing I have four more years of hard work; it was a close race," he continued to Yellowknifer.
Asked why it's important for governments to increase women representation, she said "it's critical."
"Because they make up 50 per cent of our population, we think differently, we don't think better we just think differently.
