By Megan Takahashi
VICTORIA, B.C. — British Columbia voters have elected a majority Conservative government. Premier David Eby has resigned as leader of the New Democratic Party after the snap election he called two years early ended in defeat.
The Conservative Party of B.C., led by Lorne Doerkson, was leading in 62 of the province’s 93 electoral districts with 47.81 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results from Elections BC as of late Saturday night, with about 86 percent of ballot boxes reporting. A majority requires 47 seats.
The NDP was leading in 29 districts with 37.75 percent, and the B.C. Greens in two with 10.97 percent. Elections BC put preliminary turnout at 40.75 percent of registered voters.
The results are not final. Elections BC says vote-by-mail ballots are counted about two weeks after election day, following integrity checks. The final count is scheduled to begin Nov. 6, and Return Day, when the results become official, is set for Nov. 18.
CTV News and CityNews both projected a Conservative majority on Saturday night. CTV described it as the first Conservative government in the province in nearly 100 years.
Eby steps down
Mr. Eby called the election on Sept. 22, two years ahead of schedule, CityNews reported. He won his own Vancouver riding but announced he would step down as party leader.
“This is obviously something I do with a very heavy heart, but it is time for new leadership within our party,” Mr. Eby said, according to CTV News. “It has been the honour of my life to serve as premier.”
He also spoke about NDP members of the legislature who lost their seats. “Some of the hardest working MLAs I know,” Mr. Eby said, according to CP24’s live coverage. “It breaks my heart, and I accept full responsibility for that outcome.”
In a post on X, Mr. Eby congratulated his successor: “Congratulations to @LDoerkson on becoming B.C.’s next premier.”
Daily Hive reported that Mr. Eby is the first B.C. leader to call a snap election and lose it.
Doerkson’s platform
Mr. Doerkson had led the Conservatives for less than five weeks before election day, according to CityNews. He did not give election-night interviews.
The party campaigned on an income tax cut, faster approval of new homes with less red tape, a hybrid auto-insurance model, child care, expanded liquefied natural gas development and repeal of the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, known as DRIPA. CityNews reported that the platform projects the deficit falling to $10.8 billion by 2030.
During the campaign, Mr. Doerkson called the platform “absolutely doable,” according to CTV. He pledged a $1,000 tax cut and promised to “never raise taxes.” CTV also reported pledges to triple LNG production by 2035 and add 500 RCMP officers.
Because Mr. Doerkson took over as interim leader, the party’s rules would have barred him from seeking the permanent job. Last month the Conservative board said the party constitution would be amended for him if the campaign succeeded. “A premier chosen by British Columbians deserves the certainty of leading his party. This amendment will provide it,” the board said, according to CTV.
Ottawa and the other parties respond
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated the premier-designate. “I look forward to working with you as premier to get more homes built, unleash our full potential as an energy superpower, and build a stronger British Columbia and a stronger Canada for all,” Mr. Carney said, according to CP24.
Green Leader Emily Lowan won Saanich North and the Islands, CP24 reported. Two smaller-party leaders lost. CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko was defeated in Surrey South, where outgoing White Rock Mayor Megan Knight will be the next MLA. OneBC interim Leader Dallas Brodie lost Vancouver-Quilchena to Conservative Carson Binda, a former B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Former Conservative Leader John Rustad, who was ousted as leader in 2025 and did not seek re-election, told CTV News that Mr. Eby’s snap election call had united the right. “I think we’re in a much better place going forward,” Mr. Rustad said.
What analysts said
Commentators across the spectrum pointed to the timing of the vote and to the economy.
Former premier Christy Clark, who campaigned alongside the Conservatives, called Mr. Eby’s decision to call the snap election “the worst political blunder” and said “it’s a real change election,” CP24 reported.
Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., said his firm’s polling showed the economy had become voters’ top issue. “This has become a referendum on economic management,” Mr. Canseco said, according to CP24. He said neither the environment nor U.S. President Donald Trump came up: “We spoke to 802 people, nobody mentioned Trump.”
Political scientist Stewart Prest told CTV News on the eve of the vote, “Nobody in the province wanted him to do this,” adding that Mr. Eby “alone ultimately bears responsibility” for the NDP losing two years in power. Mr. Prest also cautioned that the Conservatives’ promises will be difficult to keep. “It’s hard to claim to be fiscally responsible and also invest in all the kinds of social care and health care that British Columbians are rightly demanding and the Conservatives are promising,” he said.
Political analyst Hamish Telford told CityNews the campaign had been “predicated on Kerry-Lynne Findlay being the leader of the Conservative Party,” and that Mr. Eby should have called off the vote when she resigned two days before the writ dropped. “He didn’t have a plan B,” Mr. Telford said. “He should have anticipated that he didn’t, and he’s paid the price tonight.”
First Nations and DRIPA
The Conservative pledge to repeal DRIPA, the 2019 law that commits the province to aligning its laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is likely to be one of the new government’s most closely watched files. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, a longtime NDP ally, endorsed Mr. Eby as the “best choice as leader of this province,” CP24 reported.
Elections BC warned of limited hours or closures at about a dozen of the province’s more than 1,200 polling stations on election day, citing staffing, road closures and ferry delays, CP24 reported. Those closed included the Halalt First Nation gym in Cowichan Valley and the Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation band office gym in Fraser-Nicola.
How the incoming government handles DRIPA, and its plans for LNG and resource development, will shape its relationship with First Nations whose partnerships are central to many of the province’s largest energy projects.
What comes next
Mr. Doerkson is expected to be sworn in after the official results. The NDP will begin choosing a new leader. Results in close ridings could still shift during the final count from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10.
The Conservative Party of B.C., the B.C. NDP and Elections BC were contacted for comment. Any responses will be added to this story.
Leave a Reply