NDP supporters of Len Taylor's campaign in the Battlefords were in no mood for celebrating Monday night.
Instead, partisans who had made their way to the Tropical Inn sat gloomily as they watched the big-screen TVs tuned to Global Saskatoon, which were showing the devastating numbers both for Taylor and the provincial NDP.
In the Battlefords, Taylor wound up with 2,436, well short of Herb Cox's winning total of 3,489. Liberal leader Ryan Bater received 805 and Green candidate Owen Swiderski received 91.
Taylor ended up one of the many NDP casualties on one of the party's worst election nights ever. The NDP won only nine seats to the Saskatchewan Party's 49.
The loss also ends, for now at least, a political career that goes back to 1988 when he was first elected to parliament. Ironically, that stint also lasted exactly two terms, as Taylor lost in 1997 to Gerry Ritz.
Just before 9 p.m., a disappointed Taylor arrived with his wife Cheryl at the hotel ballroom, where he shook hands with and consoled the party faithful in the room. His daughter Blayne and granddaughter Victoria came from Calgary to be there as well.
Once most of the results in the Battlefords were in, Taylor went to the front of the room to address the 70 or so supporters who had gathered. Taylor delivered a long line of thanks to his campaign team and volunteers for what he called a well-run campaign.
Taylor went on to acknowledge the party's defeat in the election.
"As you are continuing to see on the television tonight, the Saskatchewan Party has formed a majority government. New Democrats have lost a number of seats across the province," said Taylor.
"It would appear that we have lost 11 seats from the legislative sitting that ended when the writ was dropped a month ago.
"A lot of things could have contributed to that, but let me just say to you that I'm very proud of the campaign that New Democrats across the province ran. We ran a very positive campaign from day one. We talked about positive change for people, positive change where you, meaning anybody who lived in the province, could benefit from programs that would have been initiated and run by the New Democratic Party in government. But that having been said, the province's resource-based economy is strong, and the public has decided that they are going to allow Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party to continue to manage that economy."
He said there will continue to be challenges in the next four years and regardless of the final numbers, "those members in opposition will continue to need our support and our help during these four years because there are going to be challenging times for us."
Taylor thanked his constituents for supporting him.
"Most importantly, I want to thank you and the people of the Battlefords for your support over the last eight years and for your support for the last four weeks," said Taylor. "To the extent I can hardly articulate, I've enjoyed working for you and with you for the last eight years."
He pledged to continue to work with the New Democrats in a volunteer capacity.
At the end of his speech, one supporter called out "thank you Len, for all that you've done," at which point the crowd in the ballroom rose to give Taylor a standing ovation.
Soon after his remarks, Taylor and members of his team made his way to Herb Cox's campaign office on 100th Street, where the Saskatchewan Party campaign was having its victory celebration. There, Taylor personally shook Cox's hand and congratulated him on his victory.
In speaking to reporters following his speech at the Tropical Inn, Taylor said his party had run a strong campaign in the Battlefords.
"The response from people in the Battlefords was very good. We were pleased with the response that we got. Unfortunately, it didn't fully translate in the ballot box tonight."
Taylor acknowledged a tide in favor of the Saskatchewan Party had swept the province.
"Certainly, when you look at the final numbers as we know them at this point, there's no doubt about it. The Saskatchewan people have responded strongly towards the growing resource-based economy across the province. So yes, it was quite a tide across the province. We certainly got caught up in it here in the Battlefords as well."
He didn't think local issues such as Saskatchewan Hospital, or issues heard at the doorstep, such as housing and crime rates, played a big role in the final result.
"I'm not sure that the issues were the main driver," said Taylor. "I think it was the state of the economy and confidence in Brad Wall and the Sask. Party."
As far as his own personal future, he said he had no immediate plans apart from tidying up loose ends at his office. Taylor said he planned to "settle back and relax" and weigh his options.
"I'm not, by any means, ready to retire," he said. "I'm keeping all of my options open."
He was asked by reporters whether he would take a run at the leadership of the provincial New Democrats with the news that leader Dwain Lingenfelter had lost his own seat in Regina Douglas Park. Lingenfelter resigned as NDP leader following his defeat.
While Taylor did not completely rule out running, he hadn't "had any consideration in that regard at all," he said. Taylor seemed to indicate it was more likely his involvement in the leadership race would come in a supporting role of some sort.
"I think all I can say at this point in time is that I will participate in that leadership in one way or another, perhaps supporting a candidate that comes forward," said Taylor.
