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Nunavut - Premier Paul Okalik clung to his crown in a tight race against Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik Monday night.

Okalik held on to the riding of Iqaluit West, winning by only 44 votes.

Premier Paul Okalik was returned to the legislature Monday night for the third time. Okalik said he will focus on reducing poverty in the territory. - NNSL file photo

"I'm very pleased with being given another mandate by the good people of Iqaluit West," said Okalik. "I think any election is something you work hard for.... I ran on my record and I was very pleased with the results I was getting."

Okalik, who has been premier since the territory was formed in 1999, pulled in 340 votes to Sheutiapik's 296.

Going forward, Okalik said he will focus on reducing poverty in the territory.

"There's a lot of Inuit that have not caught up to our economy yet," he said. "We have made much progress in some areas and in others not as much."

Sheutiapik spent her election evening surrounded by well wishers at the cafe she owns with her partner.

Okalik "is going to have to work really hard this term," Sheutiapik said, shortly after learning the results of the election.

As for her next step, "I have a council meeting tomorrow," she said with a smile before thanking her supporters.

Polls closed across the territory at 8 p.m. eastern standard time.

A total of 15 MLAs were elected Monday night, with a number of new faces stepping into ridings.

Iqaluit East MLA-elect Eva Aariak is the only woman who will sit in the legislative assembly.

In Rankin Inlet, former mayor Lorne Kusugak ousted cabinet minister Levinia Brown with about 62 per cent of the vote.

Baker Lake's David Simailak lost his seat to Moses Aupaluktuq, while in Nanulik former cabinet minister Patterk Netser lost to Johnny Ningeongan.

Iqaluit West candidate Elisapee Sheutiapik is comforted by supporter Hannah Uniuqsaraq upon hearing the results in her riding. Sheutiapik lost her bid to unseat Premier Paul Okalik by only 44 votes. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photo

In Quttiktuq, Ron Elliott narrowly upset Levi Barnabas's seat with 183 votes to the former cabinet minister's 174.

"I think it's a clear indication that people aren't happy with the way the government has been operating, and that's something all the members will have to think about," said Hunter Tootoo, who was re-elected in Iqaluit Centre.

Tootoo, who said he will be putting his name forward for a cabinet position this time around, pulled in about 63 per cent of the votes in his riding, against Madeleine Redfern and Joe Sageaktook.

Pangnirtung MLA-elect Adamee Kamoartuk will be one of the newcomers in the legislative assembly when it meets.

"It feels good to be elected," he said. "It's been a long month to me. That was the hardest part.... I know the work is ahead of me, but I believe I can step up to the challenge."

Voters in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut must wait for a byelection on Nov. 3 to choose a representative for the South Baffin riding.

No one came forward to run after the writ was first dropped, although four candidates came forward in a subsequent nomination period.

Meanwhile, the election remains completely on hold in Akulliq, pending the resolution of a constitutional challenge by former MP Jack Anawak.

Anawak was deemed ineligible to run in the territorial election because he did not meet the residency requirements of the Nunavut Elections Act.

After a Nunavut court judge upheld Elections Nunavut's decision to disqualify him, Anawak returned to court to challenge the act itself.

--with files from Carolyn Sloan