For the first time since 1928, British Columbians have elected the Conservative Party to lead them.
They’ll be the first conservative-leaning party to form government in BC since the Social Credit Party in the late 80s.
As of this morning, the Conservatives have won 56 ridings and are leading in another 8.
That gives them a majority, but if final counts hold true, the 64 seats would also be the second most ever won by any party.
But we also saw the lowest voter turnout since 2009, a 10 percent drop from 2024, and 4 percent lower than during the pandemic.
In the northwest, it was incumbents winning across the board.
Claire Rattée is back for the Conservatives in the Skeena, as is Sharon Hartwell in the Bulkley-Stikine, and Diane Black in Nechako-Lakes.
For the NDP, Tamara Davidson has held on to the North Coast-Haida Gwaii riding.
Conservatives have promised to repeal DRIPA, double LNG production by 2032, and freeze current taxes while adding no new ones.
Party leaders
While he did unify the BC Conservatives and lead them to a majority, there are questions about how long Lorne Doerkson will be Premier.
Technically, the Party’s consitution bans interim leaders from running for permanent leadership, sparking speculation of a quick change.
Former leadership candidates Peter Milobar and Caroline Elliott have been floated as potential usurpers.
There’s also rumours that North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn would take the post.
But the party says they expect Doerkson to remain as Premier for years to come.
As for the NDP, while David Eby did narrowly win his riding, he has stepped down as party leader.
Doerkson and Green leader Emily Lowan each secured landslide wins in their ridings.
OneBC leader Dallas Brodie and CentreBC’s Elenore Sturko, on the other hand, lost theirs in equal landslides.
