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2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

Political party leadership election in Canada From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In 2026, the Conservative Party of British Columbia held a leadership election to choose a permanent leader to replace Trevor Halford, who became leader on an interim basis following the resignation of John Rustad. Rustad announced his resignation after a caucus revolt and internal party disputes on December 4, 2025.[1][2] The election was won by former Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay by a narrow margin over Caroline Elliott, winning 51% of the vote.[3]

Quick facts 9,211 points available 4,605.5 points needed to win, Turnout ...
2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

 2023
May 30, 2026

9,211 points available
4,605.5 points needed to win
Turnout25,695 (61.6%)
 
CE
Candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay Caroline Elliott Iain Black
First round 2806.42
(30.5%)
2374.14
(25.8%)
1863.82
(20.3%)
Fourth round 4696.51
(51%)
4514.49
(49%)
Eliminated

 
YF
Candidate Yuri Fulmer Peter Milobar
First round 1193.27
(13%)
971.34
(10.5%)
Fourth round Eliminated Eliminated

Results by Riding and Round

Leader before election

Trevor Halford (interim)

Elected leader

Kerry-Lynne Findlay

Close
DateMay 30, 2026
Resigning leaderJohn Rustad
Quick facts Date, Convention ...
2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election
DateMay 30, 2026
ConventionRocky Mountaineer Station, Vancouver
Resigning leaderJohn Rustad
Won byKerry-Lynne Findlay
Candidates5
Entrance fee$115,000
Spending limit$2,000,000
Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership elections
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Background

Rustad, who was acclaimed leader in 2023, led his party into the 2024 British Columbia general election as the principal opposition party following BC United's decision to suspend its campaign and endorse Rustad's party. Preceding this, several BC United MLAs had defected to the Conservatives as opinion polls showed the party, which had no representation in the Legislative Assembly in decades, gaining momentum. The Conservatives won 44 seats, the party's best showing in over 70 years; the party hadn't won more than two seats in an election since 1953. On November 20, Rustad established his Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, in which every Conservative MLA received a portfolio.[4] Following the election, Rustad passed his leadership review with 70.66% support in 2025. His leadership in Opposition was marked by internal strife, with the departures and expulsions of many MLAs and the formation of a splinter party named OneBC.

On December 3, 2025, 20 caucus members signed a letter calling for Rustad to resign his position as leader. The party's board of directors passed a resolution ousting him as leader, and appointed Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader. In a statement, the party said that Rustad was too "professionally incapacitated" to continue as leader.[5] However, in the immediate aftermath, five Conservative MLAs refused to acknowledge the board's decision and said that Rustad remained party leader,[6][better source needed] and Rustad himself rejected the board's decision and declared that he was still the leader of the party. The next day, the Western Standard reported that Rustad would step down as leader, and shortly after he announced his resignation.[7] During his resignation speech, he announced that he would also not stand for re-election at the next election.[8][9]

Rules

Candidates were required to pay a $5,000 application fee, a mandatory $20,000 refundable rules compliance deposit, and a total of $110,000 in non-refundable fees to remain in the race. The deadline to submit candidacy applications was February 15; they required 250 member signatures from at least five of the province's regions. Once approved, candidates were required to pay a second $10,000 fee, followed by $40,000 by April 1, and $60,000 by April 18. There was a $2,000,000 spending limit, with 20% of all monthly donations going to the party. The election itself was held using a weighted electoral district system, with each provincial riding allocated 100 points; ridings with fewer than 100 ballots were allocated points equal to the number of votes cast. The winner must receive more than 50% of the vote, as there will be candidate eliminations in every round of counting held. In order to be eligible to vote members must have been signed up by April 18. Members must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident normally residing in British Columbia and at least 14 years of age.[10][11]

Campaign

Rules and finances

The Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) established a strict financial framework for the race, setting a spending limit of $2,000,000 per candidate and requiring that 20 percent of all monthly campaign donations be directed back to the party coffers.[12] To maintain ballot eligibility, contestants faced a total entry cost of $135,000, which included a $5,000 initial application fee, a mandatory $20,000 refundable compliance deposit, and $110,000 in staggered non-refundable fees paid throughout the spring.[10]

Voting was conducted entirely online through the Simply Voting system from May 23 until May 29, 2026, using a preferential ranked ballot.[13] The election rules utilized a weighted point allocation system where each of British Columbia's provincial ridings carried 100 points, with the final scores adjusted for ridings capturing fewer than 100 cast ballots.[12] To secure the leadership, a candidate needed to cross a 50 percent threshold under consecutive rounds of ballot counting.[14] To qualify for a ballot, members were required to sign up by April 18, 2026, and clear a mandatory identity verification process via the online vendor Persona between April 27 and May 20, 2026.[15][16]

Candidate platforms and messaging

Policy debates during the campaign centered primarily on the balance between social conservatism and fiscal management. Caroline Elliott oriented her platform around cultural issues alongside traditional fiscal policy, advocating for the repeal of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and criticizing the governing New Democratic Party (NDP) over public school curriculum standards.[17] Her campaign drew national attention for its organizational structure, securing an external advisory team led by veteran political consultants Kory Teneycke and Nick Kouvalis.[18]

Yuri Fulmer focused his campaign on public safety and economic growth through resource sector expansion. Addressing the province's projected $13.3 billion deficit, Fulmer rejected severe spending cuts in favor of corporate efficiencies and natural resource development in the energy and forestry sectors.[19] Fulmer also proposed local coordination with the minor party OneBC, suggesting that the Conservatives could selectively decline to run candidates in certain ridings to prevent right-of-centre vote splitting.[12][20]

Field consolidation

The candidate field consolidated heavily following the February 15 entry deadline. On February 27, Richmond-Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner withdrew from the race and endorsed candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay.[21] In mid-March, MLAs Bruce Banman and Harman Bhangu simultaneously suspended their campaigns; Banman directed his supporters to vote for Fulmer, while Bhangu endorsed Elliott.[22]

On March 28, former grocery executive Darrell Jones also exited the race to back Elliott, endorsing her focus on small business relief and tax relief measures for younger workers.[23] Following these candidate withdrawals, five candidates remained on the final electronic ballot: Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, and Peter Milobar, running to manage a total party membership that reached a record 42,000 by the close of the sign-up window.[24][20]

Timeline

2025

  • December 3 – The party's board of directors passes a resolution ousting John Rustad as leader, and appoints Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader. Rustad rejects the board's decision and declares himself still the leader of the party.[2]
  • December 4 – Rustad announces his resignation as party leader, and Halford officially becomes interim leader.[1]
  • December 15 – Businessman Warren Hamm announces his candidacy.[25]

2026

Candidates

Approved

More information Candidate, Experience ...
Candidate Experience Announcement date Slogan

Iain Black
January 15, 2026
[30][47]
"Get BC Back on Track"
Website
Caroline Elliott January 13, 2026
[29][48]
"Win For BC"
Website

Kerry-Lynne Findlay
January 29, 2026 "More Freedom Less Government!"
Website
Yuri Fulmer January 6, 2026
[49]
"Real Leadership"
Website

Peter Milobar
January 16, 2026
[50][51]
"Ready to Lead BC"
Website
Close


Withdrawn

More information Candidate, Experience ...
Candidate Experience Announcement date Withdrawal date Slogan Ref.
Harman Bhangu February 18, 2026 March 16, 2026

(endorsed Elliott)

"Let's Rebuild BC Together" [22]

Bruce Banman
  • MLA for Abbotsford South (2020–present)
  • BC Conservative caucus whip (2024–2025)
  • City Councillor in Abbotsford (2018–2021)
  • Mayor of Abbotsford (2011–2014)
February 2, 2026 March 15, 2026
(endorsed Fulmer)
"Conservative Without Apology" [52]
Sheldon Clare January 8, 2026 February 27, 2026
(endorsed Findlay)
"It's Clear – It's Clare" [53]
Warren Hamm
  • Businessman
December 15, 2025 April 12, 2026
(endorsed Fulmer)[44]
"Builders – Not Bureaucrats" [54]
Darrell Jones
  • Business executive
January 27, 2026 March 28, 2026
(endorsed Elliott)[23]
[55]

Steve Kooner
February 3, 2026 February 27, 2026
(endorsed Findlay)
"Bring Back BC" [56]
Close

Declined

Endorsements

Iain Black
Current MLA (5)
Current MP (1)
Former MLA (1)
Former MP (4)
Caroline Elliott
Current MLA (3)
Former MP (1 + 1 non-BC)
Former MLA (2)
Media
Other prominent individuals
Kerry-Lynne Findlay
Current MLA (11)
Current MP (1 non-BC)
Former MP (1)
Yuri Fulmer
Current MLA (2)
Peter Milobar
Current MLA (9)
Former MLA (1)
Former federal parliamentarian (1)

Debates

More information No., Date ...
Debates among candidates for the 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election
No. Date Place Host Participants —  P  Participant
 N  Not invited  A  Absent invitee  O  Out of race (withdrawn or disqualified)
References
Black Elliott Findlay Fulmer Hamm Milobar
1 April 8, 2026 New Westminster, British Columbia Juno News P A P P P A [95]
2 April 24, 2026 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Strong and Free Network P P P P O P [96]
3 April 28, 2026 Vancouver, British Columbia Conversations Live/Vancouver Sun P P P P O P [97]
4 May 9, 2026 Burnaby, British Columbia Global News/Resource Works P P P P O P [98]
Close

Opinion polling among Conservative Party voters

Polling after candidate deadline

More information Polling source, Link ...
Polling source Link Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Iain Black Caroline Elliott Kerry-Lynne Findlay Yuri Fulmer Darrell Jones Peter Milobar Other/
Undecided
Pallas Data [99] May 1–2, 20261,253±2.8% 17.7%30.5%23.9%7.5%8.8%11.5%
Research Co. [100] April 16–18, 2026803±3.5% 19%24%21%20%24%
April 12, 2026 Hamm suspends campaign
March 28, 2026 Jones suspends campaign
Mainstreet [101] March 19–22, 20262,578±1.93% 8.4%21.2%8.1%5.4%3.9%20.8%31.6%
Hamm 0.6%
March 15–16, 2026 Banman and Bhangu suspend campaigns
Pallas Data [102] March 2, 20261,256±2.8% 7%15%7%3%7%9%Bhangu 4%
Other 2%
Undecided 47%
Close

Hypothetical polling before candidate deadline

More information Polling source, Link ...
Polling source Link Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Iain Black Sheldon Clare Caroline Elliott Kerry-Lynne Findlay Yuri Fulmer Aaron Gunn Darrell Jones Peter Milobar Other/
Undecided
February 27, 2026 Clare and Kooner suspend campaigns
Pallas Data [103] February 15–19, 2026401±3.1% 6%16%3%2%9%5%Other 5%
Undecided 54%
Western Standard [104] January 2026578 8.5%18.4%17.1%20.5%16.7%18.8%Undecided 47.4%
December 24, 2025 Gunn declines to run
Mainstreet Research [105] December 17–18, 20251,902±2.2% 4%1%1%1%18%6%Other 3%
Undecided 66%
Pallas Data [106] December 11–13, 2025923±3.2% 1%8%10%1%23%8%Other 4%
Undecided 44%
Close

Results

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Winner
More information Candidate, Ballot 1 ...
Candidate Ballot 1 Ballot 2 Ballot 3 Ballot 4
Name VotesPoints VotesPoints VotesPoints VotesPoints
Kerry-Lynne Findlay 7,583
29.9
%
2806.42
30.5%
7,844
30.9%
2961.53
32.2%
9,050
35.7%
3559.78
38.6%
10,907
43.0%
4696.51
51.0%
Caroline Elliott 6,760
26.7%
2374.14
25.8%
7,393
29.2%
2638.74
28.6%
7,800
30.76%
2883.71
31.3%
10847
42.8%
4514.49
49.0%
Iain Black 4,902
19.3%
1865.82
20.3%
6,077
24.0%
2328.21
25.3%
6971
27.5%
2767.51
30.0%
Eliminated
Yuri Fulmer 3,163
12.5%
1193.27
13.0%
3,344
13.2%
1282.52
13.9%
Eliminated
Peter Milobar 2,893
11.4%
971.34
10.5%
Eliminated
Total Valid25,3019211.024,6589211.023,8219211.021,7549211.0
Abstain / exhausted 58
0.2%
n/a701
2.8%
n/a 1538
6.1%
n/a3,605
14.2%
n/a
Close
Sankey diagram of results round-to-round
Sankey diagram of results round-to-round

Local results for round 1

All cells display points above votes

More information Electoral District local endorsements, Black ...
Close

Notes

  1. As senior fellow at the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy and contributor to various media outlets
  2. As chair of Fulmer & Company, a private equity and venture capital firm Fulmer founded in 2010 and with substantial holdings/investment as of 2026.
  3. Rustad announced he would not enter the leadership race after previously requesting and receiving a leadership application.
  4. Abstension

References

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