Liberal Amarjeet Sohi projected to lose Edmonton Southeast riding

Amarjeet Sohi will return to Edmonton city hall to finish his time as mayor after his bid to jump back into federal politics failed on Monday.

Nearly a decade after his successful run for the Liberals, and time as a cabinet minister under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, by 10 p.m. on election night, Sohi was projected to lose the newly redrawn riding of Edmonton Southeast.

With about 20 polls left to report, Sohi is trailing with 38 per cent of the vote to more than 50 per cent for Conservative Jagsharan Singh Mahal.

It's a blow to the Liberal Party, which hoped to pick up several seats in Alberta, including Sohi's, as they're projected to win a fourth consecutive government.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney made one of his final appearances of the federal election campaign in Edmonton, stopping for a rally outside Sohi's headquarters on Sunday.

"Yes, this is not the result that we expected, but this is the result that we accept," Sohi told supporters Monday night.

"The result is not a reflection of this campaign, and I take full responsibility for this, because we can always, always do better."

After months of speculation about whether he'd seek re-election as mayor, when Sohi launched his federal candidacy in March, he said it meant he wouldn't be back for this fall's municipal race. But he would return to mayoral duties for the rest of his term in the event of a loss.

The next city council meeting is on Wednesday, and in Sohi's concession speech, he said he'd be back at city hall "very soon." He ruled out any attempt to return to council in the upcoming election — either in the mayor's chair or as a councillor.

Asked if that means he's retiring from politics, he said, "I'm not retiring from giving back to the community."

Sohi started an unpaid leave of absence from city council in March when he announced his federal run. Councillors have been rotating through deputy mayor duties ever since.

Edmonton's municipal election is set for Oct. 20.

Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson, the current deputy mayor, said Monday that she'll be disappointed to see Sohi exit municipal office later this year.

"I think Amarjeet's style of leadership, the kindness, the humility he brings to the role is something that this country and this world needs more of right now."