Conservative Party wins British Columbia election for first time in nearly a century

In the October 24, 2026 British Columbia provincial election, Lorne Doerkson led the B.C. Conservative Party to a historic majority government, winning 64 seats and securing the party's first election victory since 1928. The defeat ended nine years of NDP rule, prompting Premier David Eby to resign as leader after his decision to call a snap election backfired. Doerkson pledged to double natural gas production by 2032 and eliminate carbon tax frameworks, while Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed willingness to collaborate on housing and energy.

Conservative victory and seat counts

• ▪The Conservatives won or led in 64 of 93 seats in the British Columbia legislature, while the New Democrats won 27 seats and the Greens retained two seats
• ▪The Conservative Party of British Columbia won a majority government in the provincial election, securing its first provincial election victory since 1928

David Eby's election call and resignation

• ▪New Democratic Party Leader David Eby conceded defeat in the British Columbia election and announced his resignation as party leader
• ▪NDP Premier David Eby called a snap election, two years early, seeking a stronger mandate to respond to trade threats from U.S. President Donald Trump

Election results for Punjabi-Origin candidates

• ▪Fifteen Punjabi-origin candidates were elected to the British Columbia legislature in 2026, with 12 representing the Conservatives and three representing the NDP
• ▪Conservative candidate Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal retained Surrey North, while Dr. Harjit Taliwal won Surrey-Newton for the Conservatives
• ▪Incumbent NDP Attorney General Niki Sharma and Speaker Raj Chouhan retained their seats in Vancouver-Hastings and Burnaby-New Westminster, respectively

Conservative energy platform promises

• ▪The B.C. Conservatives promised to double natural gas production in British Columbia by 2032 and more than triple it by 2035
• ▪The British Columbia Conservative Party's platform included removing emissions limits, replacing the provincial carbon tax framework, and inviting back energy companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Woodside