BC Conservatives recover from self-inflicted chaos to win majority government
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After months of leadership feuding, staff purges and defections, the British Columbia Conservative Party installed Lorne Doerkson as interim leader and captured a majority in the provincial election called by Premier David Eby.
The British Columbia Conservative Party clawed its way out of a period of self-inflicted turmoil to win a majority government in the provincial election held on September 22. The party had been battered by staff dismissals, MLA resignations and expulsions, and investigations into alleged political inducements. Interim leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned on September 20, clearing the way for MLA Lorne Doerkson to assume leadership.
Doerkson, who learned of his appointment while traveling abroad, quickly reached out to former party members, including expelled MLA Peter Milobar, to negotiate a reunification plan. The effort was backed by party chair Jody Toor and a majority of the caucus, leading to a rushed re-assembly of a full slate of candidates after months of disorder.
"It’s important to recognize that when people left the caucus, myself and others, it wasn’t because there was this big rift between people within the caucus room. It was really around leadership, leadership decisions and electoral viability," Milobar said.
Campaign strategist Katy Merrifield, who had previously worked for leaders such as Christy Clark and Pierre Poilievre, was brought in as campaign director despite controversy over a past social-media post. She remained in the role after defending her record and monitoring the campaign’s impact.
Internal polling showed the Conservatives gaining momentum, while the NDP’s attacks on the party’s stance toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies failed to resonate. On election night, the Conservatives secured 63 seats, giving them a comfortable majority in the legislature.
"All that happened is that we did a good enough job of walking and chewing gum at the same time," said senior strategist Brad Zubyk, emphasizing the party’s ability to keep its base together and broaden its coalition.
The victory marks a dramatic reversal for a party that had been described as being in "political wilderness" just months earlier.