A new political landscape has emerged in Nova Scotia, and it's awash in NDP orange.

The New Democrats, led by Darrell Dexter, won Atlantic Canada's first-ever NDP majority on Tuesday night.

The NDP won 31 out of 52 seats in the legislature, well above the 27-seat threshold required for a majority.

Dexter, 51, is now set to become the next premier of Nova Scotia. The former lawyer and journalist was confident in victory.

"I am humbled by the trust that so many Nova Scotians have placed in the NDP," Dexter said, addressing his supporters. "Nova Scotians made an historic choice today. I take the NDP's new responsibilities very seriously."

And he spoke directly to the people of the province: "The seats of the legislature belong to the people, and our loyalty is to you, the people of this province," he said, "and our goal is to make sure the decision you made today will prove to be a positive choice for Nova Scotia."

Dexter said Nova Scotians had given his NDP team a mandate and he would "use that mandate with due caution and with great enthusiasm about the future of this province."

Dexter easily won his riding in Cole Harbour.

MacDonald thanks Nova Scotians

Outgoing PC Premier Rodney MacDonald won in Inverness, and Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil took his riding of Annapolis.

MacDonald -- whose party slipped to third place with 10 seats -- was gracious in defeat, saying in his concession speech "the people have spoken." He said he called and congratulated Dexter, and told him he would "do everything to ensure a smooth transition."

"Nova Scotians have decided to go in another direction," MacDonald said, "they have said it is time for change. While it's not an easy decision to accept, it is a decision I respect"

To people of the province MacDonald said, "thanks for a great ride as Premier of Nova Scotia."

McNeil of the Liberals, who won 11 seats and official opposition status, said he was "humbled" by the support his party received, and vowed to be a "strong voice in the legislature."

With the New Democrats leading in opinion surveys for more than two years, the province's 700,000 voters were ready to turn their backs on 10 years of Tory rule and make history by electing the first NDP government east of Ontario.

The province's sagging economy dominated as the main issue of the 35-day campaign, which began as a tranquil, springtime distraction but soon devolved into a mudslinging match marked by accusations that the NDP had knowingly accepted questionable campaign contributions from a group of trade unions.

The ruling Conservatives, led by the 37-year-old MacDonald, spent much of the race in attack mode, repeatedly warning voters about the perils of voting for the "risky NDP."

Late in the race, the premier from Cape Breton went so far as to liken Dexter to a car thief.

As well, the Conservatives produced a radio ad that criticized the NDP for accepting $45,000 in questionable union donations.

McNeil, contesting his first election as party leader, devoted much of his time to courting the small business sector, which supports about half of the province's entire workforce.

The former appliance repairman from the Annapolis Valley had promised to run a positive, upbeat campaign. But McNeil also seized on the NDP's troubles in the final days, accusing the party of failing to reveal everything it knew about how the union donations were handled.

At dissolution, the Tories held 21 seats in the 52-seat legislature, the NDP had 20 and the Liberals nine. There was one vacancy and one Independent.

The province has had a lingering infatuation with minority governments, having elected three of them in the past four elections.

Going into the campaign, the Conservatives held the majority of their seats on the rural mainland, the NDP was sure to keep its solid base in Halifax and the Liberals were counting on retaining their stronghold in Cape Breton.

MacDonald, a former gym teacher and professional fiddler, took the reins of the Tory party in early 2006 and called an election that summer.

With files from The Canadian Press