Rural and urban areas of Sask. likely to vote in different directions

"None of what we're seeing in Saskatchewan is unique to Saskatchewan," says political studies professor Daniel Westlake.

As Saskatchewan heads toward election day, many observers expect a tighter race than in recent elections.

While many constituencies in urban centres could change hands, it appears unlikely that much change will happen in the province’s rural ridings, which for the most part have elected Saskatchewan Party representatives for decades.

Daniel Westlake, a professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan, noted Alberta and Manitoba have experienced similar outcomes in recent elections, with the centre-right parties performing strongly in rural areas while centre-left opponents do better in urban ones.