Stephen Harper congratulates Alison Redford on Alberta election victory

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is congratulating Alison Redford after she and her Progressive Conservatives fended off a strong challenge from the upstart Wildrose party to hang onto power in Alberta on Monday night.

Alberta Election results

Results as of 12:48 a.m. MT (2:48 a.m. ET)
PC 62 seats (Elected in 61; leading in 1)
Wildrose 17 seats (Elected in 17)
NDP 4 seats (Elected in 4)
Liberals 4 seats (Elected in 4)

“The people of Alberta gave Alison Redford a mandate to continue to serve as their Premier,” Harper said in a statement Tuesday.
“On behalf of the government of Canada, I congratulate her and her team on their election victory.
“I look forward to continue working with Premier Redford on issues that matter to Albertans and all Canadians, including promoting jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in a time of global economic uncertainty.”
Polls before Monday night’s vote had indicated the Wildrose party was poised to take power and end the 41-year reign of the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta.
However, voting support for the further-right opposition party, led by former journalist Danielle Smith, turned out to be weaker than predicted.
Late Monday, the Edmonton Journal reported that the Tories had been elected in 61 ridings with 44% of the popular vote, that Wildrose candidates were elected or leading in 19 ridings on 34.5% of the vote; that the NDP had seen four members elected, and that the Liberals had won three seats.
Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives didn’t get much support from the federal cousins during the provincial election.
Before the vote, Calgary MP Rob Anders said a majority of Alberta’s 26 Tory MPs were quietly “leaning” in the direction of the Wildrose party.

PC Alberta leader Alison Redford reacts after she won the provincial election in Calgary, Alberta, April 23, 2012. Redford and the PC party defeated the Wildrose party to continue their 40 year legacy of holding power in Alberta.