New Democrat incumbent John Horgan jumped to an early lead in Juan de Fuca and never looked back.

About 50 supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters let out a loud cheer when it was pointed out that with only 10 per cent of the polls reporting, Horgan was besting Liberal rival Jody Twa by a margin of almost two to one.

Unofficially with about 10 polls reporting, it was Horgan 1,344, Twa 741, and Green candidate James Powell 211.

Twa and Horgan had been going head-to-head during the campaign for months.

While campaigning, both Horgan and Twa cited many of the same priorities: jobs, more funding for education and recreation and the need for improved transportation infrastructure, including using the E&N Rail line as a commuter route.

Premier Gordon Campbell never turned up in the riding during the campaign — perhaps writing it off as unwinnable.

NDP Leader Carole James, however, not only showed up but promised to come through with cash if her party forms government.

The NDP promised to push ahead with a $104-million upgrade of the rail corridor for commuter-rail service.

And while at a stop in Langford, James said an NDP government would negotiate with Western Forest Products to buy 12,000 hectares known as the Jordan River lands stretching from Sooke to Renfrew.

Twa countered that James’s promise smacked of desperation.

Twa, a former publican and Colwood mayor, had the backing of Langford Mayor Stew Young. It’s an important endorsement, given that Langford residents make up 50 per cent of Juan de Fuca’s population. It also carries with it much of the West Shore’s pro-development crowd.

Both Young and Twa said Juan de Fuca residents would be better served by having an MLA on the government side than in re-electing a critic.

Horgan called that a cynical view of politics.

Horgan won the last provincial election by more 1,800 votes. Then he was an unknown, but he was also challenging an unknown in Liberal Cathy Basskin.

Also running in this election was Green candidate James Powell.

While the seat went Liberal in the 2001 sweep, it’s considered safe NDP territory.

It encompasses Langford, Highlands and Sooke and gains Metchosin (from the old Esquimalt-Metchosin riding) and stretches out past Port Renfrew. The riding’s northern boundary takes in the Greater Victoria Water District lands surrounding the Sooke Reservoir, but loses Shawnigan Lake and Mill Bay to the Cowichan Valley riding.