It was quite apparent … right from the start. David Eby and the NDP were missing a key element needed in any democratic election campaign:
CREDIBILITY.
When Eby announced the snap election, he said the reason was because he needed a strong mandate to fight Donald Trump and his tariff war on British Columbia and Canada.
Few believed him.
So the NDP Premier tried another rationale: his majority of two seats was too slim: the NDP neeeded a stronger mandate.
Few believed him.
Most British Columbians believed (knew?) the real reason Eby decided to go to the polls only two years into the NDP’s latest mandate was to take advantage of the Opposition Conservatives, under Kerry Lynne-Findlay, being in absolute turmoil.
So Eby decided to spend $85 MILLION taxpayers’ dollars to sew up another four year mandate.
British Columbians were not amused.
When the Conservatives chose a new leader … Lorne Doerkson, long-time MLA , party Caucus chair and Depute Speaker of the Legislature … the NDP continued to denigrate their opponents as dangerois radicals and nutbars.
Few believed them.
Then came the promises: Eby made dozens of promises … 20 new primary care clinics; 1,000 more training seats for health care workers; added MRI and CT Scan machines across the province; hire 50 more Crown prosecutors to improve Court services; 7,200 more “before and after” school care spaces; $50 million more for people to install heat pumps; price caps on food essentials; etc. etc.
Few believed him.
I can’t count the number of people I heard ask, since Eby/NDP had a majority government … “Why didn’t they just do all these things without an election?”
NO CREDIBILITY!
And , from what I saw, Eby himself often didn’t seem to really believe what he was saying to reporters and the public.
He came across as arrogant, cold and, especially when defending his decision to call the election, unbelievable.
So the voters made him pay.
Harv Oberfeld
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Sorry BZ, there is no “John Horgan-like New Democrat.” He was a one off and the rest are all David Eby, Adrian Dix-like.
Ravi Kahlon and Lana Popham, two long-serving, popular NDP MLAs, saw the writing on the wall and got out so not to be tainted by what they knew was coming. Though solid at the local level, neither has province wide appeal and Josie Osborne fits that same mold. I see no one else.
I can see David Eby resigning as MLA within a year, opening a seat for an outsider. Nathan Cullen would make a decent leader, but I could never see him relocating to Point Grey. Brad West will be lobbied big time, but he would be foolish to leave the nice little nest he has built for his family in Port Coquitlam. There is no one else.
Lorne Doerkson has his work cut out for him, and he will feel the squeeze with he builds his first cabinet; there are still plenty of Rustad/Finlay malcontents to deal with. He can easily blame the NDP financial mess and Ottawa, for not fulfilling his Massey, DRIPA, Hospital, Skytrain broken promises and will need two terms to make or break his credibility.
(Response: Good analysis of the names being speculated about. Might I add, though, a REAL problem for the NDP goes beyond choosing a new leader. The party’s MLAs, strategists, bureaucracy seem to me to be flush with socialist activist revolutionaries who are more interested in pandering to those in deep poverty, homeless, druggies, anti-development activists, First Nations militants … rather than giving priority to needs of working families, struggling singles, students, seniors, crime victims. struggling businesses (especially those strangled by multi-year-long public works projects outside their doors). The party “of the people” has to get back to being more dedicated to the majority, not just the minorities. Ho)
Wow what a surprise wipe out for the NDP. The voters we’re sure pissed at Eby on all the subjects discussed here.
(Response: I know NDP politicians and strategists read this blog. My criticisms over many months of NDP policies and actions were not partisan: I do have a degree in political science and 38 years on the job watching and reporting on political ups and downs. Too bad they ignored all of them… especially the blog in April saying getting rid of Eby was their only chance of winning again. Ho
Good stuff Harvey. I especially like the comments from RIsaak and yourself.
I am very pleased with the election outcome. Hubris was Eby’s downfall. He went from thinking he was the smartest person in the room to being the dumbest, in my humble opinion. I hope to never have to see or hear from him again, especially because of Dripa, which I recently saw will soon disappear.
There are now meetings going on in Ottawa with First Nations as I write this comment. The 2021 Census states they are 5% of Canada’s population. Most likely a little higher today.
I am in my seventies and have been following the news and politics since I was 16. Never once in my life have I been associated with, related to, known or been acquainted with anyone who is or was responsible for what happened, or perceived to have happened to First Nations, now or in the past.
I believe we are being hoodwinked. Why are we accepting this?? Near as I can tell it’s all about the money and whatever they get will never be enough.
(Response: it is not that I disagree with attempts to have reconciliation or settlement of legitimate, first nations, land claims. However, Eby and the NDP just seemed to be all over themselves funding, fawning and favouring the indigenous British Colombians… And in many cases caving into their pressures and demands far too easily… even placing ownership of property in potential jeopardy. All it would take would be one decision from one activist judge! That, on top of all their other failures to deal with important issues, made the snap election look like a really stupid thing to do! Ho)
This was the least interested I have ever been in a BC election. And I guess I wasn’t alone.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/voter-turnout-2026-provincial-election-9.7395379
Less than 50% of the province voted – 48% to be more precise.
Let me repeat that. Less than 50% of the province voted. The lowest ever. 5% less than the Covid election. 10% less than the 2024 election. It wasn’t that long ago that 70% of the population voted.
The Conservatives had fewer people voting for them than in 2024 which is hardly a ringing endorsement. The NDP vote of course collapsed. The Greens increased their share but probably by people like me who were angry at the NDP but still believe in the process.
I hope this isn’t a trend.
I do have my fingers crossed about Doerksen. At least he isn’t one of a long line of provincial leaders who come from the Lower Mainland.
(Response: Voting in a democracy is such a hard-won privilege, it bothers me that so many don’t vote. They really have no right to complain if they don’t like the government in power’s actions.
I agree that many of those who voted for the Greens probably did not agree so much with their agenda, but wanted to send a message to the NDP and yet not vote for the Conservatives.
Hopefully the NDP will use its time out to refocus on the needs of the majority of British Columbians … not just the loudest or ideologically correct activists. Ho)
Eby’s campaign lacked one item, “A Reason”!
The laws of unintended consequences (of which the NDP/Visionless Vancouver cabal seem ignorant) once again proved condescension & wilful ignorance have no place in politics!
The Hinterland finally gets a leader after 3 decades of urban leaders! The breadbasket, building supply store, hydro generating, commodity moving, mineral extracting & fuel providing folks have a chance to be heard.
Us Hinterlanders are a minority, we struggle with items and tasks that urban dwellers get served with on gilded platters. We get no transport services of any real merit. Minimal road maintenance, constant ER closures, staggering food mark ups by small canadian stores, 100% bureaucratic nonsense on fire & disaster safety and many more differences from urban realities.
Yes there may be a few “maple magas” in the BC Conservatives, but there are also anti-semites in the NDP party and listening to Ms. Lowan’s speech last night one can only brace for much of the same rhetoric to come. By a landslide she was the most bitter after an actual gain in support. The corduroy jacket, cardigan clad socialist crowd can be proud……?
Eby ran a negative campaign, it took defeat for him to drop that tone & actually try to sell the NDP’s accomplishments? PP & Eby, both negative option failures, Hmmm…
Will be watching how the NDP approach their near future, Avi Lewis is a failure, Eby self immolated, a fresh concept is required with some new focus & a tad of energy.
Waiting to see how “Rodeo Lorne” does in the saddle, the bronco is unpredictable, tosses every rider 100% of the time and now the clock is ticking for him….
(Response: As someone who voted NDP as far back as the days of Tommy Douglas,David Lewis, Ed Broadbent, Dave Barrett etc … when the party championed the working class, union workers, seniors … today I hardly recognize the party. Seemsto me it was taken over by arrogant intellectual elitists, extremist left lawyers, activist professors, extreme far left ideologues, druggie enablers, First Nations’ patsies, even some pro-Jihadists! They must get back to their blue collar, family, seniors roots … or face another defeat in four years. Ho)
Well, I knew David Eby and the NDP were likely going down to defeat, but I never imagined that it would be such a drubbing.
I think the one good thing for Lorne Doerkson for having such a large caucus is that he can maneuver and perhaps muzzle some of the more fringe elements of his caucus and doesn’t necessarily have to put them in Cabinet. If he can present a sensible centre/centre-right leading government, he should be golden.
And I’ve said before, Lorne Doerkson seems like the Conservatives’ version of John Horgan – seems to have a common touch, a bit folksy, and comes across as authentic (a vast difference from David Eby) and that will serve him well.
As for the NDP and the future leadership race, if they want a hope to win in 2030, they need to select a John Horgan-like New Democrat and not a David Eby-like New Democrat – if they do the latter, they’ll be in opposition after 2030 and proved that they’ve learned nothing.
(Response: You are quite correct: a large caucus gives Doerkson a lot of leeway in deciding who he appoints to cabinet. However, there are always internal party politics that come into play as well as regional geographic requirements, so that may snag him up a bit. The immensity of the public’s rejection of Eby and the current party establishment is especially notable when you consider that almost no one had ever heard of Doerkson or most of his candidates … several of whom defeated well known NDP incumbents! Ho)
Now we can start “picking” on the Conservatives … great result last night … now what happens will be interesting…. will Eby step down etc … how about all those promises by the Conservatives …. be an interesting four years …
(Response: Eby has already said he’ll resign. And yes, I’m sure there will be lots to blog/comment about with Doerkson/Conservatives as well! Once in power, new realities set in .. .but believe it was time for change! Ho)
As expected the NDP lost and Eby immediately resigned. This gives credence to the “palace revolt” theory for the snap election.
The Greens won 2 seats and will be the environmental conscious of the government.
The NDP will reorganize and please do not elected a leader who lives in the confines of Metro Vancouver as the Lotus Land Effect blind politicians to the province as a whole. Also distance yourselves from the Gay, First Nations and bike lobbies because in the end they will do you no favours. Start listening to the people and plan for 20 minutes into the future.
And for the conservatives, welcome to the real world of politics and you will find it not as you perceived. BC voters are a fickle lot and they will soon tire of any right wing Maple MAGA rhetoric. Many of your promises will come back to haunt you and of course the ever so friendly elected lot in Victoria will have their knives out for each other due to past unhappiness in the Conservative Camp.
It will be a fun four years and we will soon see who reads history or not.
(Response: Readers of this blog will know how many times I warned the NDP was losing touch with ordinary, working taxpayers (families, seniors, business owners) and pandering instead to their favoured minorities (poverty/homeless activists, druggies, density housing advocates, First Nations militants, even far left anti-Semites within the caucus). Saturday the ignored struck back …and sent the NDP packing. Soon we’ll see if the party learned anything from their rejection by voters. Ho)
Lorne gave a great acceptance speech. May asked where was this guy during the campaign. Then today he gave a great presser. Again where was this guy during the campaign. Think he is going to be a great leader.
Very sad to see the speech the green leader gave last night. Think she went down in a lot of peoples opinion with that one.
Going to be interesting to see what Eby has been hiding from us.
(Response; I too thought his speech last night and first presser today seemed very middle of the road, reasonable. However, political pressures from others inside his caucus may be tougher to handle over time. As for the books, I have seen many newly elected governments say, after taking office, the books are worse than they expected …yada, yada, yada so some of the promised goodies will have to be delayed. Will be interesting if Doerkson follows suit! Ho)
Sorry Harvey but these books and lots of other hidden deals are going to make the job super hard BUT I think he will deliver. He was bucking bronco rider so think he can manage this ride and if kicked off will get right back on to deliver. So refreshing after Eby.
(Response: Certainly refreshing after Eby, who seemed to get more arrogant the longer he was in office. And his public reasoning for the calling of the election (Trump or his tiny majority) made me think he really thought BC voters were very naive … or even stupid. Looks like many of them sensed that when they went into the voting booth! Ho)
The only people more surprised than Eby at the NDP rout were his political advisors and the slack jawed crowd at NDP central on election night.
Incredible.
Even the usually compliant Global TV was hammering them on the 6pm News nightly in the last week of the campaign.
The media saw which way the political winds were blowing and started nightly stories on Crime/punishment failures, healthcare failures, housing affordability failures.
9 years of these fiscal fools is enough.
Deas Bridge/ Deas tunnel who cares.
The NDP are Gone, gone gone and I hope the new crossing is named after a plant , a bird, a marmot …anything but unspellable, unpronounceable tripe we have had rammed down our throats for the past 6 years.
(Response: I hope they rename that new bridge over the Fraser in New Westminster (can never remember its native-language name) to something more memorable and spellable in English … BC’s official language. And let’s drop all the indigenous acknowledgements every time someone opens anything … from a hockey game to my next Lab Test form or new neighbourhood donut shop! Ho)
Two thumbs up in agreement on that Harvey.
Though I have never voted for conservatives, I can’t say I am unhappy with the 2026 results.
In the end, after meeting Emily Lowan and knowing my riding is a Green belt, I went in that direction, because I found Emily to be a very nice individual with acceptable youthful ambitions. I expect her to only get better with age.
Eby, who came across as angry and bitter at the end, demonstrated how much politicians can fall out of touch with the people they were elected to serve. With 15 years as a politician, how he ever thought he could reverse ill will with a snap election, instead of taking the next two years to change direction to regain credibility, is mind bending, but not unusual.
I wish the Conservatives, with Canada’s version of the “aw shucks” Tim Walz well, because after all, if they do well, so will BC.
I do however wonder about the promises and where the revenue will come from to fulfil them without deep cuts or tax increases. The Massey tunnel/bridge, Surrey Skytrain and a new women’s/children hospital are big items, and all in metropolis.
And just what is this elusive red tape every politician promises to cut but never does?
I hope they have a good collection of cabinet material and can keep the extremists in check. I expect they will receive pushback from First Nations, SOGIs and perhaps renters and seniors, who I didn’t see mentioned in any promises. Hopefully they will scrap the NDPs empty condo buyback, from whiney developers.
(Response: It’s really not that unusual that a politician gets elected as an enthusiastic representative of his riding … and then, after being in power for a few years … develops an ego and I know-what’s-best attitude and no longer listens to others. I don’t know what happened to the contrite, humbled Eby we saw after the last election, but that’s not the guy British Columbians saw in the months before he stupidly decided to call a snap election. Ho)