# St. John's Centre

St. John’s Centre is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Much of the former district of St. John's Centre was renamed St. John's East in 1996. As of 2011 there were 7,846 eligible voters living within the district.
The district is bounded largely by Columbus Drive to the west, LeMarchant Road to the south, Parade Street to the east and Empire Avenue to the north. The residents are mostly working and middle-class.
Historically voters in the district have elected a member on the government side. A Progressive Conservative bastion for many years after Confederation, and an anti-Confederation area before that, St. John’s Centre shifted Liberal during the Wells and Tobin eras, though by fairly small margins. In 2011, NDP star candidate Gerry Rogers defeated PC cabinet minister Shawn Skinner. She was re-elected in 2015 and became NDP leader in 2018. Rogers retired in 2019 but former Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association president Jim Dinn held the seat for the NDP. Dinn became interim NDP leader in 2021, and permanent leader in 2023.

## Members of the House of Assembly

The district has elected the following members of the House of Assembly:
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
| 31st | 1956–1959 | Augustine Michael Duffy | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1959–1962 | Augustine Michael Duffy | United Newfoundland |
| 33rd | 1962–1966 | Anthony Joseph Murphy | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1966–1971 | Anthony Joseph Murphy | Progressive Conservative |
| 35th | 1972–1972 | Anthony Joseph Murphy | Progressive Conservative |
| 36th | 1972–1975 | Anthony Joseph Murphy | Progressive Conservative |
| 37th | 1975–1979 | Anthony Joseph Murphy | Progressive Conservative |
| 38th | 1979–1982 | Patrick McNicholas | Progressive Conservative |
| 39th | 1982–1985 | Patrick McNicholas | Progressive Conservative |
| 40th | 1985–1989 | Patrick McNicholas | Progressive Conservative |
| 41st | 1989–1993 | Hubert Kitchen | Liberal |
| 42nd | 1993–1996 | Hubert Kitchen | Liberal |
| 43rd | 1996–1999 | Joan Marie Aylward | Liberal |
| 44th | 1999–2003 | Joan Marie Aylward | Liberal |
| 45th | 2003–2007 | Shawn Skinner | Progressive Conservative |
| 46th | 2007–2011 | Shawn Skinner | Progressive Conservative |
| 47th | 2011–2015 | Gerry Rogers | New Democratic |
| 48th | 2015–2019 | Gerry Rogers | New Democratic |
| 49th | 2019–2021 | Jim Dinn | New Democratic |
| 50th | 2021–present | Jim Dinn | New Democratic |

## Election results

vte2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Jim Dinn | 1,991 | 52.38 | +5.45 |
| | Liberal | Gemma Hickey | 1,277 | 33.60 | +8.06 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robyn LeGrow | 533 | 14.02 | -13.51 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,801 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | -1.30 |
| Source(s) "Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021. |||||||
2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Jim Dinn | 2,218 | 46.93 | -0.70 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jonathan Galgay | 1,301 | 27.53 | +16.89 |
| | Liberal | Seamus O'Keefe | 1,207 | 25.54 | -16.19 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,726 | 99.56 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 21 | 0.44 | -0.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,747 | 48.60 | +0.99 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 9,767 | – |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | -8.80 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Gerry Rogers | 2,195 | 47.64 | -6.80 |
| | Liberal | Lynn Sullivan | 1,923 | 41.73 | +39.42 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Kathie Hicks | 490 | 10.63 | -32.62 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,608 | 99.44 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 26 | 0.56 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,634 | 47.62 | -14.90 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 9,732 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | -23.11 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Gerry Rogers | 2,569 | 54.44 | +39.52 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 2,041 | 43.25 | -33.24 |
| | Liberal | Carly Bigelow | 109 | 2.31 | -6.28 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,719 | 99.73 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 13 | 0.27 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,732 | 62.52 | +4.63 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,569 |
| | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +36.22 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 3,332 | 76.49 | +21.30 |
| | New Democratic | Jane Robinson | 650 | 14.92 | -0.84 |
| | Liberal | Lori Ann Campbell-Martino | 374 | 8.59 | -20.46 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,356 | 99.41 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 26 | 0.59 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,382 | 57.89 | -2.42 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,569 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +11.07 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 3,349 | 55.19 | +15.61 |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 1,763 | 29.05 | -13.22 |
| | New Democratic | Carol Cantwell | 956 | 15.76 | -2.39 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,068 | 99.33 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.67 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,109 | 59.68 | -0.57 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,236 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +14.42 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1999 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 2,609 | 42.27 | -0.78 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Brown | 2,443 | 39.58 | +1.96 |
| | New Democratic | Valerie Long | 1,120 | 18.15 | -1.18 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,172 | 99.29 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 44 | 0.71 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,216 | 60.25 | -5.63 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,317 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -1.37 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1996 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 2,579 | 43.05 | -4.20 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Brown | 2,254 | 37.62 | -1.32 |
| | New Democratic | Wayne Lucas | 1,158 | 19.33 | +5.52 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,991 | 99.42 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 35 | 0.58 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,026 | 65.88 | -0.11 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 9,147 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -2.76 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1993 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hubert Kitchen | 2,990 | 47.25 | +1.11 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Stapleton | 2,464 | 38.94 | -5.20 |
| | New Democratic | Fraser March | 874 | 13.81 | +4.09 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,328 | 99.45 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 35 | 0.55 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,363 | 65.99 | -13.53 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 9,643 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +3.16 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1989 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hubert Kitchen | 2,967 | 46.14 | +12.04 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Patrick McNicholas | 2,838 | 44.14 | -6.83 |
| | New Democratic | Vicki Silk | 625 | 9.72 | -5.21 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,430 | 99.84 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 10 | 0.16 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,440 | 79.52 | +5.97 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 8,099 |
| | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +9.44 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1985 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Patrick McNicholas | 3,332 | 50.97 | -20.30 |
| | Liberal | Mary Frances Philpott | 2,229 | 34.10 | +14.23 |
| | New Democratic | Nina Patey | 976 | 14.93 | +6.07 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,537 | 99.68 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 21 | 0.32 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,558 | 73.55 | +0.75 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 8,916 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -17.27 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1982 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Patrick McNicholas | 2,357 | 71.27 | +11.13 |
| | Liberal | John L. Slattery | 657 | 19.87 | -1.52 |
| | New Democratic | Robert Harry E. Cuff | 293 | 8.86 | -3.57 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,307 | 99.07 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 31 | 0.93 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,338 | 72.80 | -6.61 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 4,585 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +6.33 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1979 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Patrick McNicholas | 2,173 | 60.14 | +0.56 |
| | Liberal | Hugh Joseph Shea | 773 | 21.39 | -2.69 |
| | New Democratic | Valerie Anne Summers | 449 | 12.43 | +12.43 |
| | Independent | Lewis Murphy | 128 | 3.54 | +3.54 |
| | Independent | Dorothy Mary Wyatt | 90 | 2.49 | +2.49 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,613 | 99.23 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 28 | 0.77 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,641 | 79.41 | +13.33 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 4,585 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +1.63 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1975 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Anthony Joseph Murphy | 2,366 | 59.58 | -16.88 |
| | Liberal | William Doyle | 956 | 24.08 | +0.54 |
| | Reform Liberal | John Coyle | 649 | 16.34 | +16.34 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,971 | 99.45 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 22 | 0.55 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,993 | 66.08 | -7.53 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,043 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -8.71 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1972 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Anthony Joseph Murphy | 3,580 | 76.46 | +9.03 |
| | Liberal | Denis Murphy | 1,102 | 23.54 | -5.41 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,682 | 99.19 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 38 | 0.81 | –0.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,720 | 73.61 | -12.98 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,412 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +7.22 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1971 Newfoundland general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Anthony Joseph Murphy | 3,708 | 67.43 |
| | Liberal | Leonard Levitz | 1,592 | 28.95 |
| | Independent | David Owens | 109 | 1.98 |
| | New Democratic | Graham Kelly | 90 | 1.64 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,499 | 99.05 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 53 | 0.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,552 | 86.59 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,412 |
| Source: Canadian Elections Database |||||||