Dr Alaisdair McDonnell has been elected as the new deputy leader of the SDLP.
Party members voted to replace Ms Brid Rodgers at the SDLP annual conference in Belfast this weekend.
MLAs Mr Alban Maginnis and Mr John Dallat were competing with Dr McDonnell for the position.
Dr McDonnell (54) is an MLA for South Belfast. He was voted in on the second count at the SDLP conference, beating his closest rival Mr Dallat by 19 votes.