Analysts declared Doug Donaldson, NDP the winner in the electoral district of Stikine at about 9:30 p.m., a full hour earlier than in the 2009 election.
"Ecstatic," Donaldson said of his feeling after analysts gave him the win in Stikine.
"I have to thank the voters and our volunteers were amazing."
Donaldson also congratulated the other candidates in the electoral district, acknowledging running for public office takes a toll on personal lives.
"I want to thank them for participating in democracy, but at the same time I'm really happy we won."
Other candidates in the electoral district of Stikine are Sharon Hartwell, Liberal, Jonathan Dieleman, Conservative, Rod Taylor, CHP, Roger Benham, Green and Jessie O'Leary, independent.
Hartwell took a 20 vote lead after 25 polls, but Donaldson regained the lead in the vote count after 36 polls, moving ahead by 23, and widening the gap to 417 after 45 polls.
Campaign manager for Donaldson, Bill McBain, said he had a feeling when the advanced polls came in with the NDP and Liberals running neck and neck.
"In 2009 the Liberals were ahead by a 4 - 1 margin in the advance polls," McBain said.
"We still won."
Donaldson pointed to the work he's done in Stikine over the last four years as an important reason he earned a return trip to the legislature.
Another key issue was the Enbridge pipeline, Donaldson said.
An issue he felt polarized communities.
"That [Enbridge] dominated the debate," he said.
"It became a pretty large component [of the campaign] and I think that was significant in the end."
For more on the election results pick up the May 22 issue of The Interior News.