Vancouver East incumbent MP Libby Davies crushed four political opponents in Monday night's federal election, capturing a decisive 62.8 per cent of votes.

Davies' nearest competitor, the Conservative's Irene Yatco, earned just under 19 per cent.

The victory sends the longtime politician to Ottawa for a sixth time, eclipsing the five wins she earned running for a Vancouver city council seat under COPE prior to entering federal politics.

Davies, 58, celebrated at the Waldorf Hotel on Hastings Street near Commercial Drive with partner Kimberly Elliott and a roomful of campaign volunteers and supporters, as well as local politicians including COPE school trustee Jane Bouey and Vancouver Mount Pleasant NDP MLA Jenny Kwan. It was a bittersweet evening for the crowd, which celebrated the NDP's historic sweep into power as the official opposition, but bemoaned the Conservative's newly elected majority government.

Davies said she was honoured to be Vancouver East's MP and proud of NDP leader Jack Layton's successful campaign. "Who can believe it? We are the official opposition," she said during her victory speech. "And who can believe what's happened in Quebec? It's incredible. Change is taking place. I think it is about new politics. Canadians are so sick and tired of the scandals and the games and the insider stuff. They wanted a leader they could trust. They wanted a leader that they know will follow through on commitments and hold the Conservatives to account. I can commit to you today that we will be the best official opposition that you've every seen in this country."

Davies added that the election results highlight "more than ever" that the electoral system needs to change to better reflect the will of voters.

"I know many of you are hugely worried this [Conservative] majority happened and so we do have an incredible job to do in terms of holding the government to account and making sure we oppose whatever it is they try to bring on. We will do that with principle, with integrity and with great strength with the caucus we've elected across the country."

Vancouver East has voted almost exclusively for left-wing parties since it was created in 1933. The NDP and its predecessor the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation have held the riding for all but two terms--Liberal Arthur Lee captured it for one term between 1974 and 1979 and Liberal Anna Terrana for one term from 1993 to 1997.

Davies has performed well in every federal race she's run in--in 2008 she won 54.42 per cent of the vote, 56.57 per cent in 2006, 56.46 per cent in 2004, 42.27 per cent in 2000 and 42.25 per cent in 1997.

Davies and her late partner Bruce Eriksen were also key figures in the formation of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association in 1973.

In Monday's election Vancouver East Liberal candidate Roma Ahi earned 9.9 per cent of the vote, the Green's Douglas Roy collected 7.6 per cent and Marxist-Leninist candidate Anne Jamieson won less than one per cent.

noconnor@vancourier.com

Twitter: @Naoibh