Shawn Graham cruised to the top job in New Brunswick's Liberal party during a convention Saturday.

Graham, one of only seven Liberals in the provincial legislature, received 1,349 votes, roughly three times more than the only other candidate, Jack MacDougall.

Jacques Poitras reports for CBC Radio

In his victory speech, Graham talked about the importance of education and health care to the province.

He pledged to defeat Conservative Premier Bernard Lord in the next election, which some people think may be called as early as this fall.

The Liberals have been without a permanent leader since Camille Theriault, a former premier, quit last year.

Graham, 34, pointed out that the last four premiers elected in New Brunswick have been in their thirties.

"It speaks well of the population of our province to allow young people to bring forward ideas and make the province move ahead," he said.

But Lord, 36, said he's confident he will be able to defeat Graham. The premier appears to have at least one number on his side, according to political historians, and it has nothing to do with age. No party in New Brunswick has ever been knocked out of power after only one term. Graham, however, said he intends to change that.