British Columbia Premier David Eby’s strategy for re-election, which hinged on campaigning against both Donald Trump and a fragmented opposition, faced an unexpected challenge. The B.C. Conservative Party announced a significant reunification effort just days before the premier’s anticipated election call, a move that appeared improbable until recently.
Unforeseen Opposition Consolidation
Premier Eby and his advisors had largely based their campaign narrative on contrasting their vision with that of Donald Trump and portraying the B.C. opposition as disorganized. A key element of this strategy involved targeting then-B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. However, this plan was complicated when Findlay resigned her leadership position two days prior to the premier’s election announcement.
Following Findlay’s departure, her successor, Lorne Doerkson, initiated steps to bring former leaders and members back into the Conservative fold. This included invitations to rejoin the caucus for former leaders John Rustad and Trevor Halford, as well as MLA Clare Ratteée. Additionally, MLAs Scott McInnis and Linda Hepner, who had previously left the party, also returned.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) had anticipated running against multiple right-leaning parties, such as the B.C. Conservatives and CentreBC, each vying for the centre-right vote. This scenario shifted when MLA Peter Milobar, who had briefly led CentreBC, rejoined the B.C. Conservatives. He was accompanied by six other MLAs who had initially formed a group around him, strengthening the unified Conservative presence.
Only Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale and one of the original eight members of Milobar’s group, opted to remain with the diminished CentreBC. Observers suggest Sturko might retain enough support within the broader Conservative base that the party could choose not to field a candidate against her, potentially ensuring her seat.
Shifting Campaign Dynamics
Further developments included the announcement that Kerry-Lynne Findlay would not seek a provincial seat with the Conservatives in the upcoming election, despite her prior byelection campaign being voided by the general election call. Concurrently, her husband, Brent Chapman, departed the Conservative Party to join OneBC, a smaller party led by Dallas Brodie. This move was reportedly met with relief by many within the mainstream Conservative movement.
The B.C. Conservatives also revealed their campaign leadership, appointing Katie Merrifield to lead the campaign with Dimitri Pantazopoulos serving as deputy. Both are described as experienced party organizers, distinct from the individuals who had previously surrounded Findlay.
Premier’s Reaction and Conservative Leadership
These developments unfolded as Premier Eby was midway through a news conference to launch his campaign. When questioned about the apparent success of the opposition in uniting the right, Eby expressed displeasure and reiterated his campaign’s focus on the Conservatives’ alleged alignment with Donald Trump’s political agenda and its potential importation into British Columbia.
However, the unified Conservative front, now led by interim leader Lorne Doerkson, presents a different challenge to this narrative. Doerkson, a veteran MLA from Cariboo-Chilcotin, previously served as associate deputy Speaker and earned a reputation for fairness. John Rustad, who has served alongside Doerkson in various capacities, offered a strong endorsement:
“Obviously, there’s lots of people in the province that don’t know who Lorne is, but I can tell you that he is, when it comes to his character, there is none better. He’s a smart, level-headed individual. I can say he’s got his heart in his place. You won’t find a kinder, more generous individual to lead this party.”
Framing Doerkson as a proxy for Donald Trump’s political ideology may prove more difficult for the Eby campaign, given Doerkson’s established reputation.
Party Preparedness and Future Outlook
Regarding the party’s readiness for an election, Rustad expressed significant confidence, stating:
“I can tell you something, it’s 1,000 times more ready than it was in 2024.”
Rustad also indicated strong support for Doerkson potentially leading the party into the election, suggesting that party members would embrace Doerkson as premier if he were to lead them to victory. He estimated that 45,000 Conservative party members would enthusiastically support Doerkson taking the helm to implement a common-sense agenda.
The day concluded with Doerkson and Milobar planning a joint news conference to present a unified response to the NDP’s campaign. Despite the complexities, the reunification of the B.C. Conservatives on their first day of campaigning has presented an early surprise for Premier Eby, potentially disrupting a key aspect of his re-election strategy.
