Betty McDowall tugged on the sleeve of Joseph Racinsky’s suit jacket.
“I just wanted to say congratulations,” she said to the newly-elected MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills. “You cleaned up, man.”
The same could be said across the province as Racinsky and members of the PC Party claimed 81 of the province's 124 seats in Thursday’s election.
Racinsky kept the local riding blue as it has been since Wellington-Halton Hills was formed in 2007 and beyond. Ted Arnott had served Wellington for 35 years before announcing he would not seek re-election.
The local resident, who began his political career two years ago as a Ward 2 councillor in Halton Hills, was chosen by the party to keep that streak intact.
Racinsky earned 24,429 votes, 45.3 per cent of all votes cast, to beat fellow Halton Hills Councillor Alex Hilson, running for the Liberal party, who had 14,874 votes (27.6 per cent) - a large jump from the last provincial election, when the Liberals only secured 14 per cent of the votes locally.
Racinsky knows he’ll have big shoes to fill following Arnott, who hadn’t faced a serious challenge in years.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Racinsky said. “He has been such an encouragement, speaking with me throughout this campaign. I sat on his board for a number of years and he’s an incredible person and I hope he’ll be there with me as we go through this transition.”
Racinsky arrived to a round of loud applause from the approximately 60 people gathered to welcome him at Judy’s Restaurant in Erin on Thursday evening.
"Thank you everybody. We did it," Racinsky said as he entered. "Thanks to everyone who knocked on doors, who pounded signs despite one of the largest snowfalls in years. You were absolute troopers."
Racinsky said with such a short campaign, he chose to go door-to-door rather than participate in debates. Though he said it wasn’t comfortable given the recent cold weather, he felt it was the best way to hear what people felt was most important.
“There were some concerns about that,” he said, “but the fact that we were at their door, really alleviated that concern. When we explained that we were trying to be as efficient as possible and meet as many people as we could, they got it.”
As for what he heard, Racinsky said people are concerned about the U.S. President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. Affordability, which Racinsky said is tied to the tariffs, was another concern.
Asked how he would balance issues where there’s potential for competing interests between the riding and the province, like Hwy. 413, Racinsky made his stance clear, saying gridlock is costing the province too much money.
“The PC Party is going to build the 413. And today, the people of Halton Hills elected a PC member of provincial parliament,” he said. “There are a lot of people that support the 413. As a Halton Hills town councillor I am very aware of the pressures that’s going to put on our community, so those things are going to have to be navigated, but at the end of the day the province needs the 413.”
Racinsky was thrilled to see not only the local results, but also a majority PC government.
"We've got four years to go out and show Wellington-Halton Hills what we can do for them at Queen's Park. We're going to get things done and the people have shown a belief in the PC Party and Premier Ford."
Racinsky thanked everyone who took time to vote.
"Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I'm going to work my hardest for you. I'm truly humbled. And those that didn't vote for me, I will work hard for you so that you can live free and prosperous lives."
It’s been a whirlwind 30 days as well for Hilson, but the new candidate remains proud of the “tough, short campaign” he and his team ran.
Addressing a small but passionate crowd at the Red Harp in Acton, Hilson said he was honoured to run as a candidate despite not initially planning on throwing his hat into the ring.
“We might not be in office tonight, but the issues are issues that affect all of us … provincial issues are local issues, they affect all of us and we should all be a part of them,” said Hilson.
Congratulating his former council colleague Racinsky in his closing remarks, Hilson said he’s a man of integrity and he’s sure he will “stand up for what he believes in.”
In an earlier interview with EloraFergusToday, Hilson said he disagreed with Racinsky’s and the other PC candidates’ choice not to attend debates because it undermines the electoral process.
“It might not be what we all believe in necessarily, but some of the issues that are important - the healthcare, the housing and the inevitable threat of tariffs... these are all things we’re going to have to face together, no matter what and the closer we work together, the better for all of it," said Hilson.
When asked what he would do differently, Hilson said in a perfect world, he would’ve preferred the election be called in 2026 as “the runway would’ve been helpful” but he feels all campaigns faced the same time crunch.
Hilson said he does plan on returning to Halton Hills Council, where he took a temporary leave of absence during his campaign.
He went on to say that he’s open to conversations about running again as there’s still room for change in four years or two: “whatever the Premier decides.”
For full election results in Wellington-Halton Hills and across the province, check out our Ontario Votes section.