BC NDP leader David Eby announced a snap provincial election for Oct. 24, 2026, moving the vote that was previously set for 2028.
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British Columbians are set to vote in a provincial election on Oct. 24, 2026, after BC NDP leader David Eby announced a snap election on Sept. 22.
Eby’s announcement came after the provincial election had previously been scheduled for 2028, with the snap vote set to occur one week after the 2026 municipal election.
In his Sept. 22 remarks, Eby described the federal political moment as “an existential moment,” adding: “The prime minister has called this a rupture, and he is absolutely right,” before also saying, “Donald Trump is attacking our workers. He’s targeting our businesses, and he’s threatening our sovereignty.”
Eby later shifted the campaign messaging away from Trump and toward housing and affordability.
Ahead of the campaign’s final stretch, an Ipsos poll released Oct. 13 indicated the BC Conservatives had gained a five-point lead over the BC NDP after appearing in disarray one month earlier.
That disarray was tied to leadership turmoil within the Conservatives: on Sept. 20, BC Conservative MLA Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as party leader after 13 MLAs either left or were ousted by party leadership.
Following Findlay’s resignation, Lorne Doerkson took over as party leader, with most of the MLAs rejoining.
As the election campaign entered its final week, another poll reported the BC Conservatives were leading by five points among decided voters.
BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan said just after the municipal election results were in that “David Eby called this snap election two years early for nobody but himself.”
In the final week before election day, Vancouver mayor-elect Pete Fry endorsed Lowan, and Lowan’s performance in a leaders’ debate was described by experts as strong.
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