‘We came so close’: Michelle Foxton reflects on historic Liberal surge in Lanark–Frontenac

After a hard-fought race that saw the Lanark–Frontenac riding come closer than ever to flipping red, Liberal candidate Michelle Foxton is reflecting on a campaign that, while falling just short of victory, marked a milestone for progressive momentum in a traditionally Conservative stronghold.

Longtime Conservative MP Scott Reid won the riding with 33,595 votes (50.3 per cent); Foxton finished a close second with 30,397 votes (45.5 per cent). For perspective, Reid won the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston in 2021 with 48.9 per cent of the vote, compared to Foxton’s 26.4 per cent. In 2019, he won it with 48.1 per cent, compared to Liberal Kayley Kennedy’s 24.7 per cent.

“We came so close, and the closest I think we may have ever come in this riding,” Foxton said in an interview with Lanarkist the morning after the election. “It was heartening to see the results.”

Despite losing to Reid, Foxton says the tone at her campaign’s watch party was upbeat and hopeful. With nearly 300 volunteers behind her, many of whom gathered to watch the results roll in, Foxton described the atmosphere as one of unity and determination.

“The over 300 volunteers put their heart and soul into making sure we had the best opportunity we could,” she said. “It really did send a concerted message that voters in this riding are concerned — that they don’t feel they have a voice.”

The Liberal candidate pointed to broader patterns across southeastern Ontario, noting gains in neighbouring ridings like Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, suggesting that a collaborative spirit among progressive voters may have played a key role.

“We pulled a fair number of supporters from the NDP, Green, even Progressive Conservatives,” Foxton told Lanarkist. “There was a sense that if proportional representation isn’t on the table, then we will do it by working together.”

Foxton, an experienced lawyer based in Hartington, emphasized that her campaign wasn’t just about party politics — it was about restoring faith in democratic engagement, particularly in rural communities where people often feel ignored.

“This election was a statement across Canada that hate and division must be rejected,” she said. “It’s not about left or right — it’s about moving forward.”

When reflecting on her campaign, Foxton noted that one of the key cornerstones was a nine-stop Town Hall solutions tour, which sought to bring residents together for dialogue on local concerns. “That’s the kind of engagement people in this riding are craving,” she said. “I don’t want them to give up.”

While she plans to return to her law practice, Foxton said she intends to remain involved in community advocacy, continuing to work on key issues including the climate crisis, affordable housing, and intimate partner violence.