New Brunswick general election, 1974

New Brunswick general election, 1974

November 18, 1974

58 seats of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick 30 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader Richard Hatfield Robert Higgins Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since 1967 1971 Leader's seat Carleton Centre Saint John Park Last election 32 26 Seats won 33 25 Seat change +1 -1 Percentage 46.86% 47.52% Swing -1.54% -1.08

Map of New Brunswick's ridings coloured in based on the winning parties

Premier before election Richard Hatfield Progressive Conservative Premier-designate Richard Hatfield Progressive Conservative

The 28th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It saw Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick win its second majority government with a gain of one seat despite losing the popular vote to Robert Higgins' New Brunswick Liberal Party. It was the second election in a row in which the Conservatives received a majority in the parliament despite receiving fewer votes than the Liberals.

Despite the Hatfield government's involvement in the failed Bricklin SV-1 automobile plant, and a series of kickback schemes, there were few surprises during the campaign. Hatfield had made inroads in the Acadian community since the 1970 election, winning three francophone seats in by-elections. The Acadian support proved key during Hatfield's entire term as premier.

This was the first election which saw candidates contest single member ridings; previous elections had each county as an electoral district electing a varying number of members based on their respective populations.

Results

Rendition of party representation in the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly decided by this election.

  Progressive Conservatives (33)

  Liberals (25)

References

Elections and referendums in New Brunswick
General elections	Pre-Confederation 1785 1793 1795 1802 1809 1816 1819 1820 1827 1830 1835 1837 1843 1846 1850 1854 1856 1857 1861 1865 1866 Post-Confederation 1870 1874 1878 1882 1886 1890 1892 1895 1899 1903 1908 1912 1917 1920 1925 1930 1935 1939 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1963 1967 1970 1974 1978 1982 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2006 2010 2014 next
Referendums	1967 2001
See also: List of New Brunswick by-elections