SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party held its ground in the city and flipped the Churchill-Wildwood, Silverspring and Stonebridge constituencies. However, it will remain the official opposition after failing to break the Saskatchewan Party’s rural strongholds.

Preliminary results early on Oct. 29 show the Sask. Party holding 35 seats against the NDP’s 26, surpassing the 31 seats needed to form a government. The Saskatchewan United Party had a lukewarm performance, failing to secure rural votes.

Former Sask. Party member Nadine Wilson lost her Saskatchewan Rivers seat, finishing third behind the Sask. Party’s Eric Schmalz and the NDP’s Doug Racine. Sask. United had hoped to win at least two seats.

The NDP swept every seat in Regina, but it was not enough despite gains in Athabasca and Cumberland.

All results are preliminary, with mail-in ballots to be processed on Oct. 30. A third count will follow, covering all voting week and mail-in ballots received by the deadline