British Columbia voters deliver Conservative majority after Eby's risky early election
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Premier David Eby's snap election in British Columbia, called just two years after the last vote and framed around warnings about United States President Donald Trump, backfired on the governing NDP. On September 22, 2026, voters handed the Conservatives a majority despite low turnout and heavy campaign attacks, ushering in a new provincial government.
Premier David Eby announced a snap provincial election in British Columbia two years after the previous vote, citing concerns about the province's ability to respond to policies of United States President Donald Trump and the challenges of governing with a narrow one-seat majority. The election was held on September 22, 2026, amid the province’s municipal election campaign.
The Conservative Party, led on election day by interim leader Lorne Doerkson, won a majority of seats, ending the New Democratic Party's (NDP) tenure. Doerkson, who had not previously sought the party leadership, was described by observers as a moderate figure who appealed to voters.
Polls conducted before the election indicated that British Columbians were more focused on issues such as affordability and health-care access than on federal matters involving President Trump. Voter participation was low; preliminary counts suggest turnout will fall short of the 50 percent mark, one of the lowest in the province’s history. The NDP is projected to receive roughly 250,000 fewer votes than in the 2024 election, while the Conservative vote total also declined slightly.
During the campaign, the NDP highlighted perceived links between provincial Conservative politicians and the policies of President Trump. However, internal changes within the Conservative Party, including the resignation of leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay and the appointment of Doerkson, appeared to consolidate right-wing support.
"We need to stand up to the influence of extremist politics," Eby said at a leaders’ debate, referring to the provincial impact of U.S. political trends.
The election outcome has shifted the provincial government, with the Conservatives now forming the executive branch.