Long after the main election ballots were counted, Labour’s Jenny Marra was retained as a list MSP for North East Scotland.
She had to wait four long hours for confirmation that she would remain a player in Holyrood, as one of the final names announced.
Ms Marra said that while the election had brought disappointment, the party would come back stronger.
And she claimed Labour had played a key role in raising the issues that really mattered to the people of Dundee.
She said: “The SNP may have experienced an exceptional electoral victory across Dundee but the Labour Party has experienced that success before.
“Mark my words, we will do so again when the city decides that it needs a genuinely progressive party.
“I feel very strongly that the Labour Party set the agenda for policies in the city.
“We have raised the issues that matter, such as the disgraceful situation of teacher shortages and GP shortages.
“We will be working hard to address these key problems.”
While the announcement of the list votes in Aberdeen brought good news for Ms Marra, there was disappointment for Labour colleague Lesley Brennan.
Ms Brennan had been sworn in as an MSP in January, as the next candidate on Labour’s North East Scotland list, following the resignation of Richard Baker.
She saw out the last ten weeks of the parliament and had harboured hopes of extending her stay.
Her tenure proved brief, however, and it will be the council chamber alone for Ms Brennan after a short sojourn at Holyrood.
Fellow councillor Richard McCready also failed to secure a list MSP position as the Scottish Conservatives secured four of the seven North East Scotland posts.
Labour secured two seats and the Liberal Democrats the seventh.
Mr McCready nonetheless said he had found the experience “enjoyable”.
“I always like to speak to the voters and hear their opinions and hopes and I have to thank the campaign team for their hard work.
“Clearly it was not enough and we will have to find new ways to promote Labour in Scotland and Dundee.”
The list votes announced included a report card for many parties not represented by named candidates.
Votes were cast for UKIP, the Scottish Communist Party, Rise and the Scottish National Front, among others.
