“I wish tonight we could all be in a big room because I’m really into hugs and high fives and there are so many hugs and high fives that I’d like to give tonight,” NDP Leader Kate White said late Monday evening.

“But, instead I’ll imagine you all in your living rooms across the territory tuning in.”

That was the atmosphere at NDP headquarters at the Guild Hall.

A room that would usually be full in a non-pandemic year only had a smattering of local media, coupled with a few campaign team members.

White was the first orange candidate to secure a seat in the legislature, easily securing the Takhini-Kopper King riding.

As the votes settled, White stepped to the podium shortly before 11 p.m.

The results, White said, were not what the party was hoping for, but she was grateful for all the votes Yukoners had cast for the NDP.

“Even these results are not what we hoped for, so many Yukoners voted for the NDP,” said White. “I want to thank you and tell you that we have your back.”

The election results are still undetermined, since the NDP’s Annie Blake in the Vuntut Gwitchin riding remains tied in votes with Liberal incumbent Pauline Frost.

A recount will be held, and if the votes remain even after that, a draw will be held to determine the winner – as happened in the same riding after the 1996 election, with the NDP’s Robert Bruce winning it.

White said they will look forward to the result coming out of the Vuntut Gwitchin riding.

Based on the election results generally, White said it’s clear Yukoners voted to have the three parties work together.

“They have clearly told us is what we need to do is work together to get things done,” said White. “That is exactly what we are going to do.

“I’d like to congratulate my opponents, Sandy (Silver) and Currie (Dixon); it’s been an honour to run alongside you on this campaign.

“I look forward to working with you in the coming days and weeks to plot out a path, as Yukoners have asked us to.”

What the vote does tell White is that Yukoners are looking for a better deal.

“Tonight, thousands of people voted for a better deal than what they’ve been getting,” said White. “They voted to shake things up, reject the old ways of doing things, and voted to shepherd in a new normal.”

During her speech, White said she is proud of the campaign the NDP ran.

“It was always my intention to run a bold campaign built on a strong vision for what the future could be,” said White. “We put up our hearts and our vision for the future, and so many people responded.

“I’m so grateful and proud of the candidates who joined me on this journey. They are community leaders.”

While speaking to the media afterward, White reiterated how proud she was of the campaign that was run.

“I’m proud of the values we put out there and the vision for Yukon,” said White.

“What we saw was thousands of people voted for it. What people have also said is there no clear majority, and they expect us to work together, and that is what I’ve always been committed to.”

With results still to be determined, White said she wasn’t sure of the role the NDP will play in the house, but she did speak hypothetically.

“Like everybody else, I’m waiting for those final results,” said White.

“There are some conversations in my future I’m sure I’ll be having.

“The one thing I want people to know is they know where I’ve stood. They know my values and they know my track record. It is those values that will guide me in the decisions that are coming. I’ve never stopped working for Yukoners. I’ll keep doing that.”

White said she had received a note Monday that said her campaign helped push the Yukon 10 years forward.

“There is no more conversation about considering safe supply; that is part of the dialogue,” said White.

“A lot of the other issues we pushed forward will be a lot more commonplace and because of that I couldn’t be more proud.”

The housing crisis, White said, was one of the most important issues of her campaign.

“The big concern that I would say that in 2011 when I was knocking on doors, housing was the key issue,” said White. “In 2016, housing was a key issue and in 2021, the issue is still housing.

“Nobody put forward the ideas that we did. There needs to be a deep conversation in Yukon about capping rent increases. We need protection for folks in mobile homes.

“In the next territorial election, if the first issue we talk about is housing, it will be another failure. And, that would be a tragedy.”

Environmental issues, dealing with the opioid abuse crisis, and dental coverage and pharmacare were other key issues the NDP campaigned on.

Whether it’s a majority or minority government, White said, she will continue to push the government to do the right thing.

“The platform was based on the needs of folks in our communities and I’ll keep doing that,” said White.

Emily Tredger took the Whitehorse Centre riding, held by former NDP leader Liz Hanson since December 2010. Whitehorse Centre has been NDP since 2002.

“I was really lucky to have some wonderful people in my bubble at my house with me,” said Tredger, whose father, Jim, served as an NDP MLA from 2011 to 2016.

“They were so enthusiastic that they actually screamed at the first poll; I thought they called it.

“I felt so supported, and it is just really exciting. It’s been a month with lots of hard work, but it is so rewarding to feel that hard work paid off.”

Like White, Tredger said housing was the big issue in her Whitehorse Centre riding, in which she defeated Dan Curtis, on leave from the Whitehorse mayoralty to run as the Liberal candidate.

“Housing was definitely number one,” said Tredger. “Almost every door I knocked on wanted to talk about housing.”

Tredger said people were also excited about the idea of a walk-in mental health clinic and expanded dental and pharmacare coverage for more Yukoners.

Tredger said it was great to campaign against Curtis.

“I have lots of respect for Dan,” said Tredger. “He was a great colleague, opponent. We ran into each other in the field sometimes.”

When Tredger spoke at the Guild Hall, she said her head was still spinning.

“Of course I’ll be ready to dive in and start working and I’m excited to start the work of being an MLA,” said Tredger.