Stephanie Allen drops out of Vancouver mayoral race, calls for progressive unity

Stephanie Allen, the Coalition of Progressive Electors’ mayoral candidate in Vancouver, has withdrawn from the municipal race. Announcing the decision Wednesday, Allen said progressive voters need to unite behind a single challenger to incumbent Mayor Ken Sim, with limited time for parties to consolidate support and improve the chances of electing a new mayor.

Allen said it had been a privilege to run for COPE, which she described as a party with a long history of challenging the power of the super-rich and supporting poor and working-class people in Vancouver. While ending her mayoral campaign, she said she was recommitting herself to the movement and to the fight for people in the city.

COPE, OneCity and the Vancouver Greens had previously agreed to work toward reducing the number of progressive mayoral candidates to avoid vote-splitting and increase the likelihood of defeating Sim. Allen urged the remaining candidates to follow her example, narrow the field to the progressive candidate best positioned to defeat Sim, and put Vancouver ahead of personal interests.

COPE co-chair Nate Stanley said the withdrawal strengthens the party’s effort to elect progressive candidates across Vancouver’s elected boards. He said COPE is scaling up what it describes as its biggest campaign in decades to raise turnout, elect its candidates and advance its values.

Co-chair Sam Smart thanked Allen for her leadership and her participation in the party’s People’s Primary process. Smart said the decision was about serving Vancouver residents and urged progressive candidates who are behind in the mayoral contest to listen before it is too late.

COPE has also launched an online letter-writing campaign that allows residents to contact mayoral candidates, support their preferred choice and encourage parties to agree on a unified progressive candidate.