Lorne Doerkson’s BC Conservatives won a massive majority with 48% of the vote and 63 seats (at time of recording), while David Eby’s BCNDP crashes to 37% in its worst result since 2001 (and second worst result since Thomas Berger). The Greens sit at 11% with two seats, and turnout is a bleak ~48% as many NDP voters stay home.
Ian’s joined by journalist Shannon Waters and now ex-political staffer Patrick Meehan to breakdown what happened.
We argue Eby never sold a convincing reason for the snap vote, looked opportunistic, and lacked a forward-looking “what’s next” pitch—while distractions like the childcare controversy and shifting rationales didn’t help. We flag tight races, the Greens’ limited breakthrough, and the risks for the new premier, including party infighting over his interim leadership status.
The NDP taps Jennifer Whiteside as interim leader, Kevin Falcon resigns as BC United leader, and Patrick reflects on seven years as a government staffer now job-hunting after the loss.
Links
- Read Shannon Waters in The Narwhal
- Follow Shannon on Bluesky
- Follow Patrick Meehan on Bluesky
- Elections BC results
- B.C. NDP knives were out for David Eby before the last vote was cast | Vancouver Sun
- Jarryd Jäger claims of BCNDP infighting over Whiteside appointment
- Diamond Isinger response to Falcon’s resignation
