Liberal candidate Giovanna Mingarelli made history Monday night, becoming the first woman elected to represent Prescott–Russell–Cumberland federally following a closely fought campaign against Conservative challenger Julie Séguin.
The newly redrawn riding, which includes much of the former Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, saw a competitive race between two local candidates with deep ties to the region. Mingarelli, a former technology entrepreneur and public engagement advisor, built her campaign around community roots, youth engagement, and support for francophone minority rights, drawing on the endorsement of outgoing Liberal MP Francis Drouin.
Speaking to supporters at the Broadway Bar and Grill in Rockland, Mingarelli framed her victory as a homecoming and a chance to advocate for the community she grew up in.
“I’m glad to be home,” she told the crowd, thanking her family, campaign team, and volunteers for their support. “We are just getting started.”
Mingarelli’s message focused on strengthening the region’s presence in Ottawa, particularly through support for French-language communities and promoting the involvement of women and youth in politics. She pledged to maintain constituency offices in Rockland and Hawkesbury and said she would prioritize accessibility and visibility across the riding.
“I intend to be very much engaged in the community, attending local events and making sure that the concerns of residents are heard in Ottawa,” she said during a media scrum after her speech. “It’s important that people here have strong visibility in government.”
Mingarelli also committed to pushing for stronger representation of official languages in cabinet, saying it was a key concern raised by constituents throughout the campaign.
Séguin, a Hawkesbury councillor and former parliamentary assistant to Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux, campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and rural economic development. Early returns showed the race tightening as results came in, but Liberal support in traditional strongholds in Rockland, Clarence-Rockland, and parts of Russell Township helped secure Mingarelli’s win.
According to the results as of Tuesday morning, April 29, Mingarelli earned 38,392 of 70,372 votes (54.56 per cent). Séguin sits in second place with 28,422 votes (40.39 per cent) and the NDP’s Ryder Finlay is in third with 1,710 votes (2.43 per cent).
With results still being tabulated, as of Tuesday morning, the Liberal Party earned a fourth stratight mandate with a minority government, at a minimum. Led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Liberals secured 155 seats (and leading in 13 more), falling short of the 172 needed for a majority. The Conservatives, under Pierre Poilievre, won 133 seats, while the Bloc Québécois secured 21.
The New Democratic Party suffered significant losses, capturing only 5 seats, leading to Jagmeet Singh’s resignation as party leader. The Green Party retained 1 seat.
Notably, both Poilievre and Singh lost their own ridings, marking a significant shift in Canada’s political landscape.
The victory keeps the riding in Liberal hands following Drouin’s decision not to seek re-election after nearly a decade in Parliament. Mingarelli’s win was part of a broader trend across Ontario, where early results showed the Liberals holding key suburban and rural ridings, although several races remained too close to call at press time.
