10:30 pm update:
Maguire supporters - especially the youth wing - will be glad to see the arrival of celebratory cake, courtesy of newly re-elected Larry Maguire. He told voters to "Rehire Maguire" and they did. He owned the seat long before all polls had reported in.
Meanwhile, to the north, Conservative candidate Dan Mazier will have to get used to the initials MP in front of his name. The Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa candidate had no trouble sailing past his nearest rival, Laverne Lewycky of the NDP.
10:00 pm update:
Larry Maguire has arrived at his election night headquarters to be greeted by his supporters and his nearest competition, Ashley Duguay, NDP candidate from Brandon who came to congratulate him. Not all polls are in but Maguire has a healthy lead of 14,439 versus Duguay's 3,357 with another 67 polls still to report in.
9:30 pm update:
Since it became clear the Liberals will be returned to Ottawa, likely with a minority, smiles turned upside down at Maguire headquarters - even though the Conservative candidate is well ahead in the vote count so far. NDP Ashley Duguay is a distant second, after 21 of 177 polls have reported in.
9:10 p.m. update:
Maguire's lead continues to grow with the NDP's Ashley Duguay in second place, just ahead of the Liberals' Terry Hayward.
When interviewed earlier this evening, Duguay said:
"This is my first ever election where I am able to run on what I believe in and for a great leader and party! How it ends up? Not sure but no matter what my head will still be held high :)".
9:00 pm update:
As the west's results comes in, the huge Liberal lead diminishes. Polls are up and down, and attention at Maguire headquarters is on the big screen at the front of the room. Maguire is expected to arrive soon to watch the results with his supporters.
8:40 p.m.
Polls have just closed at 8:30 pm in Manitoba, and results will start trickling in shortly.
Brandon-Souris candidate Larry Maguire for the Conservatives is widely expected to win back his seat as MP, which he won in 2015.
His competition includes Terry Hayward (Lib) Ashley Duguay (NDP) and Bill Tiessen (GPC).
Empire-Advance reporter Anne Davison is at Maguire headquarters in Brandon and will send reports throughout the evening.
