Dennis King hugs a supporter after winning the leadership of the P.E.I. PC Party.

Dennis King supporters react after finding out he won the leadership during Saturday's convention.

Dennis King tells his Mom he loves her over the phone while making his way to the stage to give his first speech as P.E.I. PC leader during Saturday's convention.

Dennis King reacts after winning the leadership of the P.E.I. PC Party.

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —

Dennis King will lead the PC Party into the next election.

The former PC strategist won the leadership race late Saturday afternoon on the second ballot, after earning 2,071 votes. King bested leadership contenders Allan Dale, who drew 803 votes, Kevin Arsenault, who drew 661 votes and Sarah Stewart-Clark, who drew 601 votes.

On the first ballot, King was just shy of majority, earning 2,044 votes. Dale earned 746 while Arsenault drew 590 votes and Stewart-Clark drew 527. Shawn Driscoll was eliminated in the first round after earning 307 votes. There were 8 spoilt ballots.

The leadership contest, which saw the party adopting online voting for the first time, saw the highest voter turnout of any past PC leadership contest. In all, 4,222 PC members voted, far surpassing the party’s previous record of 2954 during the 2015 PC leadership contest.

Party leaders said 5,837 members were eligible to vote.

King said the voter turnout demonstrated renewal in a party that many consigned to the political wilderness.

“We’re alive, baby! And we’re coming to get ya!” King said in his victory speech.