The DUP have had a triumphant victory in Upper Bann as newcomer Carla Lockhart secured her former colleague's seat.
Former DUP MP for the area since 2005, David Simpson stood down and was replaced with 34-year-old Ms Lockhart who has been an MLA for Upper Bann since the 2016 election.
Ms Lockhart polled more than opposition rival Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd to top the poll with 20,501 to Mr O'Dowd's 12,291, who also came second to the DUP in 2017.
Speaking after her victory, Ms Lockhart thanked God and her predecessor who she said she will lean on for guidance in the times ahead.
- For full results click here
"I am extremely humbled that 20,501 people put their trust in me as their DUP MP for Upper Bann," she said.
"I ran a positive campaign while others sought to dig from the sidelines, I campaigned on a record of delivery for Upper Bann. I stand on my record of delivery and the people of Upper Bann embraced that.
"To my family, who see me on good and bad days, and I want to thank them for their prayers on my political journey."
She went on to thank her baby boy Charlie: "I believe this will make me a better person and it's for his future for all our children and grandchildren going forward.
"I will represent everyone to the best of my ability."
Running against Ms Lockhart in the seat that was once held by UUP leader Sir David Trimble, was Doug Beattie from the UUP, long-time SDLP representative Dolores Kelly, the Alliance Party's Eoin Tennyson as well as Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd, who recently attempted to replace his party's vice president Michelle O'Neill.
In 2017 he polled 14,325 votes and was David Simpson's nearest rival.
This time round he bagged 12,291 votes and spoke of the need to restore the Stormont institutions.
“We have 24 percent of the vote,” he said.
“That's a significant mandate in any election.
“I think all the political parties now have to go away and think about what the message was the electorate have been sending us.
“It's quiet clear I think that everybody is up for the talks that are coming next week.
“What we need to now do is make decisions and get a sustainable executive and assembly up as quick as possible.”
Veteran SDLP campaigner Dolores Kelly managed a haul of 4,623 votes.
Ms Lockhart's nearest unionist rival was senior UUP figure Doug Beattie.
The former British soldier polled 6,197 votes, which was down on his 2017 tally of 7,900.
However a swell of support for the Alliance Party - who were the only party to enjoy an increase in their share of the vote aside from a modest 0,7 per cent for the SDLP - saw Eóin Tennyson take 6,433 votes, putting him in third place with almost a 13 per cent share of the overall vote.
CANDIDATE VOTE % CHANGE SINCE 2017
Carla Lockhart (DUP) 20,501 ( 41.0%) -2.6%
John O'Dowd (SF) 12,291 ( 24.6%) -3.4%
Eóin Tennyson (ALL) 6,433 (12.9 %) +8.3%
Doug Beattie (UUP) 6,197 ( 12.4%) -3.0%
Dolores Kelly (SDLP) 4,623 ( 9.2%) +0.7%
Electorate: 82,887
Turnout: 60.7%
Majority: 8,210
- For full results click here
