B.C. Election: 8 takeaways after a landslide Conservative win

Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson at his party's election party at Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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Just under two million British Columbians had their political say on Saturday across 93 ridings.

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The decision was a resounding rejection of B.C. NDP leader David Eby and his party. Eby triggered the snap election on Sept. 22, just two years into his four-year term.

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Here are some take-aways from the night:

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1. A quick outcome

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Within half-an-hour of results starting to arrive it was clear that the B.C. Conservative party had won a significant majority. Fifteen minutes later, it was official.

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University of B.C. political scientist Stewart Prest said that it quickly became apparent that the Tories were leading in over 60 ridings.

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“When the party is quickly winning half the vote across the province, they’re almost certain to win a commanding majority,” he said.

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After the 2024 election there were 47 NDP MLAs, 44 Conservative MLAs and two Greens. As of midnight Saturday, the Conservatives had 64 seats, the NDP 27 and the Greens two.

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Jagrup Brar addresses supporters alongside NDP candidates at the party’s election night gathering in Surrey on Saturday. Photo by Quinn Bender /Postmedia

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2. A sweep for Conservatives in Surrey

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The Conservatives won six of Surrey’s 10 seats in 2024 — Surrey North, Surrey South, Surrey-Cloverdale, Surrey-Panorama, Surrey-Serpentine River, and Surrey-White Rock.

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This year, the party swept the city in stunning fashion.

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Longtime NDP MLAs Jagrup Brar in Surrey Fleetwood, Amna Shah in Surrey City Centre, Jessie Sunner in Surrey Newton and Garry Begg in Surrey Guildford all lost their seats.

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The Conservatives also swept in Delta and Richmond.

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3. Blue wave reaches Vancouver

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The blue wave travelled farther into Vancouver this election.

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The Conservative party was able to win one Vancouver seat (Vancouver-Quilchena) in 2024, and this year also secured Vancouver-Langara, Vancouver-Yaletown, and Vancouver-Fraserview.

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It was a double political hit for defeated Vancouver Yaletown incumbent NDP candidate Terry Yung, whose wife Sarah Kirby-Yung was voted off of Vancouver city council last Saturday.

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Eby was able to narrowly hang onto his seat in Vancouver-Point Grey.

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West Vancouver-Capilano MLA-elect Caroline Elliott thanks her family after taking a commanding lead in the polls. Photo by Lori Culbert /PNG

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4. Big winners and losers

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Just six months ago, Caroline Elliott was narrowly defeated by Kerry-Lynne Findlay in the race to be Conservative party leader.

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On Saturday, Elliott easily won the riding of West Vancouver-Capilano, vacated by Lynne Block so that Elliot could run. Block moved to North Vancouver-Seymour that she also easily won.

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Among the losers this election was former Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie, who ran again in Vancouver Quilchena as a OneBC candidate and secured less than a thousand votes.

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Also, popular former Conservative Elenore Sturko finished third in Surrey South as a CentreBC candidate.

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Former Green party MLA and leader Andrew Weaver’s comeback attempt failed as a candidate for CentreBC in Oak Bay-Gordon Head. The riding was won by NDP incumbent Diana Gibson.

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5. Low voter turnout

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In 2024 more than two million people turned out to vote in the provincial election, representing 58.74 per cent of all registered voters.