The DUP has performed strongly in three overwhelmingly unionist constituencies - Strangford, East Belfast and North Down.
The party, which had clearly put behind it last year's difficulties involving leader Peter Robinson, had three candidates elected in each.
However, the Ulster Unionists hung on well in Strangford with its two candidates deemed elected without reaching the quota. The Alliance Party secured its seat comfortably while the SDLP failed for the fourth time to win a seat.
In neighbouring North Down, the DUP easily won three seats. Alliance's Stephen Farry was well placed to pick up sufficient transfers and he made the quota. The final two North Down seats were among the last to be decided anywhere in Northern Ireland.
Leslie Cree held on to his seat for the Ulster Unionists while Steven Agnew narrowly retained the single seat held by the Greens in the last Assembly.
The Ulster Unionist vote dipped considerably here with its support apparently migrating to the DUP, Alliance and Independent unionists.
In East Belfast, Mr Robinson's home constituency and the seat he lost to Alliance in last year's Westminster election, the party took three seats despite a large personal total for Mr Robinson.
Alliance, with one elected, succeeded in bringing in a second candidate. The constituency is one of only four across Northern Ireland where the party nominated two candidates.
The Ulster Unionists took the sixth and final seat despite a well-reduced vote.