CAMROSE - The Canadian Press is projecting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has won the byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot.

Poilievre was leading by about 5,500 votes with almost 20 per cent of polls reporting just over an hour after voting closed.

That means he has secured a seat in the House of Commons.

The riding was left vacant shortly after the spring general election, when Conservative Damien Kurek stepped down to make way for the party leader.

Poilievre had been elected in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton seven straight times but lost in April to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy.

A record 214 people were on the ballot, most of whom were part of a protest movement called the Longest Ballot Committee which is pushing for electoral reform to replace the firs

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