The Orange Wave was strong in the byelection in Jack Layton's former riding Monday, as NDP candidate Craig Scott, a York University law professor with a long resume of human rights work, won the riding easily.
Scott beat out Liberal candidate Grant Gordon.
"The orange crush is here to stay," said a victorious Scott, as he took to the stage shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday night.
Scott said the people of Toronto-Danforth have said "yes" to the party that represents hope and optimism.
The NDP will take on Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party in Ottawa, Scott said.
"The people of Toronto-Danforth have sent a message to Ottawa that will be heard across to country," Scott said.
Scott vowed to fight the Conservatives during the March 29th budget, and onward to the 2015 federal election.
Interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel congratulated Scott, saying he would carry on Layton's legacy in the riding.
"Jack is with us. He is proud of us. This is a great MP," Turmel said.
Early results showed the NDP winning the election with 58 per cent of the vote and the Liberals taking 29 per cent.
Even before the NDP declared victory, interim Liberal leader Bob Rae took to the stage at the Gordon camp on Broadview Avenue around 9:30 p.m. to concede to the NDP.
"On behalf of the Liberal party, we congratulate the New Democratic Party for their victory tonight," Rae said.
Gordon conceded moments later.
"To Craig Scott, the NDP candidate, I congratulate you," Gordon said. "You are highly qualified and I wish you the best of luck in Ottawa."
Gordon, a volunteer hockey coach to his three boys, likened the race to a hockey game.
"We played great, we held our heads up high and we didn't quit," Gordon said.
The seat in the Toronto-Danforth riding has been vacant since August when Layton died from cancer.
Not only did Scott have Layton's legacy as a well-liked leader buoying his campaign, he also had an extra month of organization.
The Liberals were hoping for a breakthrough in the riding, which they held before Layton won it in 2004, and rumours of a star candidate swirled in December and January.
But that star candidate didn't emerge.
The Liberals finally chose Grant Gordon, an advertising firm owner and husband to Toronto broadcaster Gillian Deacon, on February 9, a full month after the NDP chose Scott as its candidate.
The Liberals did dish out plenty of star power during the campaign. Rae campaigned with Gordon in the riding during the race, along with other high-profile MPs, including Justin Trudeau and John McKay, as well as provincial MPPs and Toronto councillors.
Meanwhile, Scott had plenty of support from Layton's widow, Olivia Chow, and other NDP MPs, as well as riding MPP Peter Tabuns and former party president and NDP leadership candidate Brian Topp.
Some of Scott's notable accomplishments include work on the Maher Arar case and international human-rights work in Sri Lanka and Honduras.
This win gives the NDP 102 seats in the House of Commons. The Conservatives have 165 and the Liberals have 35.
