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NDP challenger Deborah Drever won the Calgary-Bow riding that has been the Progressive Conservative’s stronghold for years in a hard-fought battle.

Drever, 26, a university student who emphasized funding for health-care and education in her campaign, was in a close race but extended her margin of victory over the Conservative candidate Byron Nelson, a lawyer, to more than 450 votes after all polls reported.

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“I want to see change,” Drever said during the campaign.

She ended the Tory’s long dominance in the west-end riding that includes the neighbourhoods of Bowness, Cougar Ridge, Patterson and Valley Ridge on either side the Trans-Canada Highway. The suburban riding had been held by the Conservatives since 1975. Former cabinet minister Alana Delong represented Calgary-Bow since 2001 but did not seek re-election.

Wildrose candidate Trevor Grover ran a low-key campaign and he finished a distant third in the voting. Matthew Gaiser, 18, ran for the Liberals while Jonathon Himann represented the Alberta Party and David Reid ran for the Green party.

sewart@calgaryherald.com