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National
Brendan Hughes

The key NI election 2022 constituencies to watch - from South Belfast to Lagan Valley

The Stormont Assembly election campaign has drawn to a close after months of parties trying to secure votes ahead of polls opening on Thursday, May 5.

A total of 90 seats are up for grabs with five MLAs to be elected in each of the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. Here is a full list of the candidates standing.

Some areas will be more competitive than others, with small shifts in voting patterns having the potential to be the difference for parties between winning and losing seats.

Read more: Full coverage of the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election

Below, we take a look at some of the key constituency battles that could determine whether parties emerge on May 5 celebrating success or assessing electoral disappointment.

Also check out our everything you need to know guide.

South Belfast constituency

Five parties hold one seat apiece in Northern Ireland's most diverse constituency, making it a tightly fought contest.

Both Alliance and the SDLP are each fielding two candidates in the outside hope of picking up an extra seat.

It will be the first electoral test for Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey since her co-option to the Assembly to replace Máirtín Ó Muilleoir in 2020.

DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots is in the running this time after switching from Lagan Valley following the death of party colleague Christopher Stalford.

Green Party leader Clare Bailey looks set to retain her seat. The UUP finished sixth in 2017 but has high hopes for its candidate Stephen McCarthy.

Foyle constituency

The constituency which covers Derry city is a key test for Sinn Féin, the SDLP and DUP.

Sinn Féin is aiming to retain its two seats and will be hoping that a local party shake-up following internal problems has shored up its vote.

For the SDLP, Foyle is a target constituency to gain a third seat after party leader Colum Eastwood's landslide win in 2019 to become MP for the constituency.

DUP Junior Minister Gary Middleton could be vulnerable if the unionist vote splits due to a challenge from UUP candidate Ryan McCready.

Vote transfers could be crucial in who captures the final seat.

Lagan Valley constituency

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who represents the constituency at Westminster, is seeking a return to the Assembly alongside former First Minister Paul Givan.

But the party's decision to only field two candidates compared to three in 2017 suggests a nervousness over the vote.

Ulster Unionist deputy leader Robbie Butler should comfortably retain his seat, although securing a second seems challenging.

The constituency is a target for the Alliance Party as it seeks to gain a second MLA.

SDLP incumbent Pat Catney - a surprise gain for the party in 2017 - could be in a battle with Alliance for the final seat.

East Belfast constituency

Alliance looks set to retain its two seats in the constituency, with party leader Naomi Long's vote expected to help bring her running mate over the line.

The DUP also has two seats in the constituency and is taking no chances, running just two candidates instead the three it fielded in the 2017 Assembly election.

It could be a risky move for the UUP to run a second candidate alongside their incumbent Andy Allen.

An outside bet could be the Green Party, which is talking up its chances of councillor Brian Smyth being in contention for the last seat.

Strangford constituency

The DUP is under pressure to retain all three of its seats in the constituency after scraping through a closely fought Assembly election contest in 2017.

Harry Harvey is electorally untested since being co-opted in 2019 to replace former Economy Minister Simon Hamilton.

And former Education Minister Peter Weir was just 225 votes ahead of runner-up Joe Boyle of the SDLP in the final tally in 2017.

The SDLP has high hopes that its candidate this time, Conor Houston, can pick up enough transfers to gain a seat.

But Alliance and the Ulster Unionists also see an opportunity, with both parties running two candidates in a bid to double their representation.

West Tyrone constituency

A challenge for Alliance is gaining ground west of the Bann in mainly nationalist constituencies where it has historically struggled.

Stephen Donnelly is one of their best hopes in these areas having secured a council seat in Omagh during local government elections in 2019.

Sinn Féin will need to carefully balance its vote to retain all three of its seats, especially with the electoral uncertainty of two co-opted MLAs on its ticket.

The DUP's Thomas Buchanan and SDLP's Daniel McCrossan look set to return to the Assembly.

The UUP selecting Ian Marshall as its candidate faced vocal opposition within the party locally. The dispute could be to the benefit of TUV candidate Trevor Clarke.

Read more: Party leaders clash over border poll and Northern Ireland protocol

Read more: Colum Eastwood: SDLP fighting DUP for final seat in key election battlegrounds

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