SINEAD Bradley is certainly following in her father's footsteps in politics and is leading the way in the battle in south Down.
The daughter of veteran SDLP politician PJ Bradley, she secured 5,059 first preference votes - not far off the 5,868 quota required.
All eyes have been on Jim Wells who arrived at the count centre in Lisburn around lunchtime with a broad smile, happily chatting to party supporters.
The DUP candidate almost did not make it into the count centre in Lagan Valley after forgetting to bring photographic identification.
The former Stormont health minister will be hoping to create positive newspaper headlines after recent months have seen him quite often embroiled in controversy.
His once comfortable position as front runner has taken a battering in recent times after a row over alleged comments about gay people saw him leave the post he had waited so long for.
But it appears that the electorate have been happy to back him, with Mr Wells securing 5,033 votes in the first count.
Also polling well is Chris Hazzard of Sinn Féin who secured 5,045 first preference votes, while party colleague Caitriona Ruane, who was second over the line last time round in 2011, received 4,191 votes.
Margaret Ritchie's absence in south Down following her departure from Stormont to the halls of Westminster saw her colleague Colin McGrath take up the mantle securing 4,288 votes while Sean Rogers secured 3,564.
But there were tears as John McAllister's future as an MLA seems over.
He has been under pressure after leaving the Ulster Unionist fold that he was elected under in 2007 and 2011. He set up NI21 with Basil McCrea three years ago but a political fall-out has left them no longer friends or colleagues.
A popular assembly member, Mr McAllister has a strong personal vote, but a campaign without a party machine behind him saw him secure just 1,156 votes in the first count.
The Ulster Unionists have placed all their hopes of reclaiming the seat in Harold McKee who secured 3,481 votes.
Henry Reilly, now a TUV member, is also vying for unionists votes and secured 2,718 in the first count. His popularity, especially in his home-town of Kilkeel may allow him to poll well but his transfers could help Mr McAllister or Mr McKee.
A long-serving councillor, he certainly carries name recognition which can only be boosted by the powerful, well-funded UK-wide brexit push.
