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Former MPP Frank Klees, one of many former or current politicians at the Toronto Congress Centre, called it a “great night for the province of Ontario.”

He said “relief” is on the way.

“He (Ford) has made believers of many doubters,” said Klees, noting he was concerned that the anti-Ford “rhetoric” might have traction and push voters to the NDP.

Photo by Mark Blinch / THE CANADIAN PRESS

“This convinces me of the integrity of the voter,” he said. “Voters in the province know the mess we are in and that we can’t keep spending money we don’t have.”

Former city budget chief Mike Del Grande said he was “gratified” that the province was going in a different direction and he was on board to support and help Ford in any way he can.

“I am so friggin’ happy right now,” said Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a long-time friend and supporter of the PC leader. “We are reborn and now we have some hope at the provincial level … We have a breath of fresh air in there who will open up the books.”

It really was Doug Ford’s race to lose.

Nevertheless, it was a dizzying six months for Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party and many inside and outside the party wondered if they could recover from the setbacks .

After many of the candidates for the 2018 election had been nominated and the PC platform released, former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown was forced to resign amid #MeToo allegations levelled at him by former female staffers. Brown has vehemently denied the allegations.

A leadership race was hastily called at the end of January. Late on March 10 — after a delay in vote-counting due to allegations of irregularities — Ford narrowly took the leadership from his closest rival Christine Elliott.

Photo by Mark Blinch / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The 30-day election was marred by mudslinging and a concerted fearmongering campaign by both the Liberal and NDP parties, who tried to paint Ford as a Trump-like demagogue. They consistently served up propaganda that Ford would cut services, get rid of 200,000 public servants and destroy health care and education.

The powerful unions, who abandoned the flailing Liberals for the NDP and were prevented from donating to their preferred party financially, used robo-calls, an online campaign and e-mails to try to intimidate members into voting NDP.

SLevy@postmedia.com