An updated look at the parties running in the B.C. provincial election
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British Columbians are heading to the provincial ballot box on Oct. 24, just two years after the last election that kept the B.C. NDP in power.
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Back then, there were 47 B.C. NDP MLAs, 44 Conservative party MLAs and two Greens.
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A lot has changed since, with voters this time around having a choice of six political parties.
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Meet the political parties running in B.C.’s provincial election and read on for what you need to know.
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B.C. NDP
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Sunrise
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The B.C. NDP has been in power since July 2017, under two leaders.
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The party evolved from the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation that was formed in the early 1930s to represent workers and farmers.
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Party leader David Eby became premier in November, 2022, following Premier John Horgan’s retirement due to health. Eby got a renewed mandate in October 2024 and has overseen a rough two years in power.
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The party had 47 MLAs when the writ was issued on Sept. 22.
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On the day of Eby’s announcement, three of his cabinets ministers said they would not run again, including the popular Ravi Kahlon (Delta North). Then, on Sept. 23, former Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said she would not be seeking re-election.
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NDP stalwarts Adrian Dix (Vancouver Kingsway) and Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam) will be running.
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Conservative party of B.C.
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This party surged in the lead-up to the 2024 election, winning 44 seats. It was not the Conservative’s first rodeo, having formed in 1902 and dominating that era.
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This success was due to the controversial decision of B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to remove his party from the 2024 election, leaving the field open for the Conservatives to capture the centre-right vote.
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Following the election, the Conservative party was led by John Rustad. He resigned in December 2025 and was replaced by Kerry-Lynne Findlay in May 2026. After Findlay’s resignation on Sept. 20, she was replaced by Lorne Doerkson.
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Surrey-Serpentine River Conservative MLA and former Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner is not running for re-election. On Sept. 23, Rustad (Nechako Lakes) announced he would not seek re-election.
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B.C. Green party
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The B.C. Green party first appeared in an election in 1991 and won their first seat in 2013 with Andrew Weaver taking the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
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In 2017 there were three Green MLAs elected, and two in 2024.
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One of those two, Rob Botterell (Saanich North and the islands), will not be running again and will be replaced as Green candidate by current party leader Emily Lowan.
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CentreBC
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CentreBC is a political party, but according to the B.C. legislature its status as a party has not been recognized.
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It was formed out of the ashes of B.C. United (the renamed former B.C. Liberal party) in March 2025 by former Liberal MLA Karin Kirkpatrick.
