Stormont Assembly’s pre-election campaign is in full swing now and the parties are busy collecting votes.
There are a total of 90 seats in 5 MLA constituencies in 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland.
Some regions will be more competitive than others, with a small change in voting patterns that can make the difference between winning seats and losing parties.
Here are some of the key constituency battles that could determine whether parties show up on May 5 to celebrate success or appreciate electoral frustration.
South Belfast
Five parties each have a seat in Northern Ireland’s most diverse constituency, making it a close fight.
The Alliance and the SDLP are each nominating two candidates with outward hopes for an additional seat.
This will be the first electoral test for Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Harge after the association’s participation in the assembly to replace Maritain Moyloire in 2020.
DUP Agriculture Secretary Edwin Poetz this time after crossing the Lagan Valley following the death of fellow party member Christopher Stallford.
Green Party leader Claire Bailey appears to be in charge. UUP ranked sixth in 2017 but has high hopes for its candidate, Stephen McCarthy.
a sheet
The college, which includes the city of Abbey, is the main exam for Sinn Féin, SDLP, and DUP.
Sinn Féin aims to retain its two seats and hopes that local party turmoil over internal problems will boost the party’s vote.
For the SDLP, Foil is the target constituency for third place after party leader Colum Eastwood won a landslide victory in 2019 to become the constituency’s deputy.
Young DUP Secretary Gary Middleton could be weak if unionists vote to break with a challenge from UUP candidate Ryan McCread.
The vote can be crucial in determining who will get the final seat.
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Lagan Valley
DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson, who represents the borough of Westminster, is looking forward to returning to the Assembly with former Prime Minister Paul Geffen.
But the party’s decision to name only two candidates compared to three in 2017 indicates a strain over the vote.
Ulster League Deputy Leader Robbie Butler should feel comfortable in his seat, even if securing the seconds seems tough.
Al Qaeda is the coalition’s goal as it seeks a second MLA.
Acting Democratic Party Chairman Pat Katten – a surprise victory for the party in 2017 – may find himself in a battle with the coalition for the final seat.
East Belfast
The coalition appears to hold its two seats in the constituency, where party leader Naomi Long is expected to vote in favor of her nomination.
The DUP also has two seats in the constituency and is not at risk, having nominated only two candidates instead of the three announced in the 2017 House elections.
It could be a risky move for UUP to launch a second candidate with incumbent Andy Allen.
An open bet might be the Greens, which talks about Councilman Brian Smith being battling for last place.
Strangford
The DUP is under pressure to retain all three seats in the constituency after the failure of the contested electoral contest in the Assembly in 2017.
Harry Harvey has not had electrical tests since he was chosen in 2019 to replace former Economy Minister Simon Hamilton.
Former Education Secretary Peter Weir received just 225 votes ahead of SDLP runner-up Joe Boyle in the 2017 final.
The SDLP has high hopes that this time its nominee, Conor Houston, can get enough transfers to win a seat.
But unionists in the Alliance and Ulster also see an opportunity as both sides name candidates to double their representation.
Western Tyrone
The challenge to the West Beni alliance escalates mainly in the nationalist counties in which the party has historically fought.
One of their best hopes for these areas is Stephen Donnelly, having secured a seat on Umag Council during the 2019 local government elections.
Sinn Féin will have to carefully balance his vote to keep all three seats, especially due to the electoral uncertainty of the two MLAs selected on his ticket.
Thomas Buchanan of the DUP and Daniel McCrosan of the SDLP plan to return to the assembly.
The UUP, for which Jean Marshall was elected as its candidate, was met with strong opposition in the local party. The dispute may be in favor of TUV candidate Trevor Clark.
Source: Belfastlive
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