Manitoba's New Democratic Party has elected Wab Kinew as its new leader.
Kinew beat out three-time leadership candidate and former MLA Steve Ashton 728 votes to 253 at the party's leadership convention in Winnipeg on Saturday.
"It's a new day for the NDP and it's a new day for Manitoba," Kinew declared in his acceptance speech.
"[I will do] the very important work of uniting the Manitoba NDP."
A total of 1,032 delegates from across the province came to Winnipeg for the leadership convention at RBC Convention Centre.
Kinew said the past few years have been challenging for the NDP but praised members for coming back together to support the party and oppose PC policies.
"There is a place for you in this party and I will be your leader as well," he told those who voted for Ashton.
Kinew was a high-profile candidate and rookie MLA, first elected in 2016. The former CBC broadcaster is an author, rapper and Indigenous-rights activist.
But Kinew has been surrounded by controversy ever since he launched his first political campaign last year.
During that campaign, he apologized for misogynistic and homophobic song lyrics he wrote as a rapper. Shortly after that, tweets he had sent years earlier making fun of gays, lesbians, First Nations children and overweight women came to light.
This week, Kinew's ex-partner came forward saying he threw her across a room in 2003, leaving her with rug burn on her legs. Domestic assault charges were laid but later stayed by the Crown, and Kinew denies the allegations.
During his speech before the vote Saturday, Kinew acknowledged the domestic assault charges almost immediately.
"I'm sorry," he said to victims of domestic violence who may have been hurt by media coverage recently and to those who have stood up for him in the last few days.
Kinew apologizes for past actions"I am not the man I was. I have apologized and I am sorry. But that is not enough … every day I will work hard to earn your trust," Kinew told delegates.
Kinew also took shots at the current government, lead by Conservative Premier Brian Pallister. "Somehow, friendly Manitoba ended up with a mean premier," he said.
He then promised a jobs plan, improvements to education and repeals to a health-care premium plan floated by the PCs this week.
At Saturday's convention, Kinew supporter and domestic violence survivor Carmen Nedohin said she has questioned Kinew on his past and felt his answers were sincere.
"I would not be supporting him if I didn't absolutely feel confident in my heart that he's the right guy, and gave me honest and truthful answers," she said, adding she's been with the party since the '80s
"He's not only atoning for the decisions he made, but he's trying to be a better person every day."
Nedohin compared Kinew to former NDP leader Gary Doer. "When we took a kicking back in the day and Gary Doer came in, he brought people together, and I find that exactly is what Wab has. He has that same ability to really listen and be inclusive."