After several tension-filled hours on Saturday night, Doug Ford was declared the new leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives.

“Tonight we took the first step in defeating Kathleen Wynne,” Ford told media and supporters on Saturday night.

At a Liberal rally on Sunday, Wynne said she wished Ford well “even though we don’t agree on all things.”

Ford walked in the Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday and told reporters that he’s “not worried” about the possibility of a court challenge from PC runner-up Christine Elliott.

“I'm worried about Kathleen Wynne, not Christine right now. We're going to defeat Kathleen Wynne and bring prosperity back to this great province,” he said.

Toronto Mayor John Tory also sent out his congratulations to Ford. “No matter who forms government in June, I plan to do what I have always done as Mayor of this city — stand up for Toronto and all of its residents.” In a statement released late Saturday night, Tory also said he would be reaching out to Ford to “arrange a meeting to discuss Toronto’s needs.”

Ford is the brother of the late Toronto mayor Rob Ford and a former one-term Toronto city councillor. He also finished second to Tory in the 2014 mayoral election.

Patrick Brown, former head of the Ontario PCs — whose resignation as party head triggered the snap leadership race — also wished Ford well.

“We are all behind our new leader and focused on our common goal of defeating the disastrous Wynne Liberal government,” he wrote on Twitter late Saturday night.

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Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper also sent his congratulations on Twitter to Ford, and complimented PC candidates Caroline Mulroney, Tanya Granic Allen and Elliott on their campaigns.

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But it was not all well wishes for the newly elected PC leader. Some of Ford’s former colleagues from Toronto city hall tweeted their disapproval of his appointment.

City Councillor Josh Matlow tweeted that having Ford as the leader of Ontario’s PC party takes out the “Progressive” in Progressive Conservative.

“It’s the Ford party —out of touch, turning its back on its own moderate members & in constant turmoil. He is repeatedly Trump-like dishonest, nonsensical & divisive. Doug wins, Ontario loses,” he tweeted.

Councillor Joe Cressy didn’t specifically name Ford but tweeted, “There’s a long history of political leaders who stand for nothing more than slogans, empty promises, and the sound of their own voice. That tradition continues in Ontario tonight. On June 7th, we can vote to say no to it.”

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam referred to the leadership results as a “Gong Show” and tweeted, “Just like the Ford Nation years at City Hall. So it begins.”

With files from Brennan Doherty

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