So you're waking up, having your morning coffee and the 2025 provincial election is now in the rear-view mirror.
But, politically speaking, what has changed in Simcoe County?
Well, the short answer is nothing.
The area has typically been a stronghold for the Progressive Conservatives and party leader Doug Ford, a sea of blue for the past several years.
There are five ridings in our region, including Barrie-Innisfil, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, Simcoe-Grey, Simcoe North and York-Simcoe. All of the PC incumbents held their riding, and most in resounding fashion.
Here is a look at where things stand, now that the dust has settled:
Barrie-Innisfil
Incumbent Andrea Khanjin, who has served as environment minister in Premier Doug Ford's cabinet, secured a third term with a resounding win last night.
According to unofficial results from Elections Ontario, she garnered 22,048 votes, outpacing the second-place finisher by more than 11,000 votes.
Khanjin was first elected in 2018, when she received 22,121 votes, just shy of 50 per cent (49.97 per cent to be exact) of the vote. The NDP's Pekka Reinio finished second with 12,661 votes, or 28.6 per cent. Placing third was Liberal incumbent Ann Hoggarth with 5,543 votes, or 12.52 per cent. Hoggarth was first elected in 2014 to represent what was then the Barrie riding.
Khanjin held the Barrie-Innisfil seat in 2022 with 18,225 votes, or 50.25 per cent. Reinio again placed second, with 6,942 votes, and the Liberals' John Olthuis was third with 6,564 votes, or 18.1 per cent.
The riding includes south-end Barrie and Innisfil.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte (BSOM)
Doug Downey also had designs on a third term in the provincial legislature and came through with flying colours.
According to unofficial results from Elections Ontario, Downey received 20,011 votes in last night's provincial election — which was almost 5,700 more than second-place candidate Rose Zacharias from the Liberals.
He was first elected in 2018, when he garnered 20,445 votes, or 44.75 per cent. Finishing second that year was the NDP's Dan Janssen with 12,891 votes (28.21 per cent), with the Liberals' Jeff Kerk coming in third with 6,210 votes (13.59 per cent).
It was a much closer race in 2022, when Downey narrowly edged Liberal candidate, and former Barrie mayor, Jeff Lehman by 296 votes to hold the riding for the PCs. Downey received 16,631 votes (42.1 per cent) to Lehman's 16,335 (41.35 per cent) to secure a second term. The NDP's Beverley Patchell was a distant third with 3,093 votes (7.83 per cent).
A local lawyer, Downey has served as attorney general in Ford's cabinet.
The riding, which includes the north end of Barrie and the two townships, was created in 2015 and first contested in 2018.
Simcoe-Grey
Progressive Conservative incumbent Brian Saunderson was looking for a return trip to Queen's Park in 2025, and he punched his ticket.
According to unofficial results from Elections Ontario, Saunderson had 30,572 votes — which is 12,000 more than Liberal candidate Ted Crysler.
The former Collingwood mayor was elected MPP in 2022, when he received strong support, picking up 27,067 votes (51.18 per cent). Finishing second was Crysler with 11,687 votes (22.1 per cent). Finishing in third that year was the NDP's Keith Nunn with 5,849 votes (11.06 per cent).
Simcoe-Grey has been a Progressive Conservative stronghold for many years. Jim Wilson held the riding, previously known as Simcoe West, for many years, beginning in 1990 until he announced in 2020 that he would not seek re-election. Wilson resigned from the PC caucus in 2018 and finished his political career as an independent. He had held high-profile portfolios, including minister of energy, science and technology for five years, as well as minister of health for parts of three years.
The riding, which abuts Barrie's western border, includes Essa Township.
Simcoe North
Jill Dunlop is no stranger to politics. It's in her blood.
Dunlop was also seeking a third term, and got exactly what she was looking for.
According to unofficial results from Elections Ontario, she received 25,020 votes — 11,752 more than second-place finisher Walter Alvarez-Bardales of the Liberals.
First elected in 2018, Dunlop served as minister of colleges and universities for three years, and, more recently as minister of education.
In 2018, she received 25,236 votes, or 46.92 per cent. Finishing second was the NDP's Elizabeth Van Houtte with 15,078 votes (28.03 per cent), while Liberal candidate Gerry Marshall was third with 9,523 votes (17.7 per cent).
In 2022, Dunlop widened the margin of victory — percentage-wise at least — after receiving 23,041 votes, or 49.8 per cent. Van Houtte came in second with 8,208 votes (17.74 per cent) while the Liberals' Aaron Cayden Hiltz wasn't far behind with 8,070 votes (17.44 per cent).
Her father, Garfield Dunlop, was the riding's Progressive Conservative MPP from 1999 to 2015. He resigned so former party leader Patrick Brown could run for a seat in the legislature. Brown, who is now the mayor of Brampton, has also been a Barrie city councillor and Barrie MP.
The riding includes Orillia, Midland and Penetanguishene.
York-Simcoe
Caroline Mulroney was another local MPP with a third term in her sights. Check that box, too.
According to unofficial results from Elections Ontario, she received 24,705 votes — 14,768 more than second-place finisher Fatima Chaudhry of the Liberals.
The daughter of late former prime minister Brian Mulroney was first elected as York-Simcoe's provincial representative in 2018, when she received 26,050 votes, or 57.26 per cent. Finishing second was the NDP's Dave Szollosy with 10,655 votes (23.42 per cent) while Liberal candidate Loralea Carruthers was third with 6,182 votes (13.59 per cent).
In 2022, Mulroney demolished the competition with 20,789 votes, or 56.76 per cent. The Liberals' Walter Alvarez-Bardales was second with 6,319 votes (17.25 per cent) and the NDP's Spencer Yang Ki was third with 4,083 votes (11.15 per cent).
Mulroney, who also ran for the party leadership in 2018, has served as francophone affairs minister, transportation minister, attorney general, and president of the Treasury Board.
Prior to Mulroney's arrival, the riding had been held for many years by the late Julia Munro.
The riding includes Bradford West Gwillimbury.
For more coverage of the provincial election, click here.