JIM Wells said he feels vindicated in the eyes of the electorate of South Down after a year of suffering some of the "darkest days of my life".
In his victory speech after becoming the first candidate elected in the constituency, the DUP man described how the election had been a make or break for his political career following a difficult 15 months.
The former Stormont health minister had been embroiled in controversy during his last election campaign after being accused of making homophobic remarks in public, later forcing him to resign from his health post. He also had to deal with the serious illness of his wife.
But speaking as the count concluded in Lisburn, Mr Wells said: "This time last year was one of the darkest days of my life, the election count for Westminster was held, and as many of you knew, I was going through a wide range of personal and professional tragedies.
"I went through the most difficult year of my life by far. Therefore it gives me the greatest pleasure to be the first person elected here."
He also said "once again the unionists of South Down turned out in huge numbers and transferred their votes at record levels. An amazing use of tactics".
And the jovial politician joked "officially I can say I am indeed the father of the house".
"I am not the oldest because there is 20 that have been elected that are older than me, but I can now officially say that I have been at Stormont longer than anybody else," he added.
Ulster Unionist Harold McKee was also elected in south Down, as well as Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard and Caitriona Ruane.
Their return to Stormont brought broad smiles from the Sinn Féin contingent after the party ate into the SDLP vote once again.
In 2011, Sinn Féin were around 2,000 votes behind their rivals, but the party have continued to make inroads into the nationalist vote in South Down and this time came within just 180 votes of the SDLP.
Mr Hazzard described his party's campaign in South Down as "very positive".
"It wasn't so long ago that South Down was considered an SDLP stronghold, but that has gone," he said.
Mr Hazzard also said he was "delighted to be returning to Stormont on behalf of South Down with an increased Sinn Féin vote in South Down".
However, it was a night of mixed fortunes for the SDLP after the party secured two seats with the election of two new faces to Stormont in Sinead Bradley and Colin McGrath.
But it came at the expense of veteran politician Sean Rogers, who was squeezed out. His departure was described as a "great loss" to the constituency.
In a message to his supporters, Mr Rogers said he was "disappointed" not to be returned.
"Just to say a big thankyou to all those who helped me with my election campaign," he said.
"Best wishes to Sinead and Colin, I know they will serve South Down well. Good luck to my other SDLP colleagues.
"Of course I'm disappointed, but that's democracy. Now for some family time."
Elected: Sinead Bradley (SDLP), Jim Wells (DUP), Chris Hazzard (SF), Colin McGrath (SDLP), Caitriona Ruane (SF), Harold McKee (UUP).
