Edwin Poots has been chosen to succeed Arlene Foster as leader of the DUP.
Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister beat off the challenge of Lagan Valley MP by 19 votes to 17 to take the position.
The party’s 26 MLAs and eight MPs voted in a secret, remote ballot this morning – the first leadership contest in the party’s history.
Mr Poots is expected to officially take over when Mrs Foster formally stands down on May 28th.
Speaking after the result was announced Mr Poots said he will continue to campaign against the Northern Ireland protocol.
“I will be reaching out to other leaders in unionism,” he said.
“I want to see unionism working together. The Northern Ireland protocol has proven to be a massive challenge for us and if we are to fight this … then it is for us to do that together.”
Mrs Foster resigned her position after three-quarters of the party's assembly members signed a letter demanding a leadership contest.
She lost the support of her party amid growing dissatisfaction over the economic effects of Brexit – with members calling for the Northern Ireland protocol to be scrapped.
Hard-line and evangelical members of the party are also reportedly unhappy with Ms Foster's decision to abstain in a recent vote to ban the practice of gay conversion therapy.
