The BC NDP is missing a candidate in one riding in the snap election it called

Premier David Eby’s BC NDP will not appear on the ballot in one riding in the snap provincial election called by his government. Elections BC’s final candidate list shows the governing party has 92 candidates across British Columbia’s 93 ridings after nominations closed at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Peace River North has no BC NDP candidate. The Conservative Party of British Columbia is the only party contesting every MLA seat.

The omission stands out because the governing party, which holds a majority, chose the timing of the early election. The election call on Sept. 22 itself served to grow the BC NDP’s majority. The party ran candidates in all 87 ridings in the 2020 provincial election and all 93 in 2024, making this a break from its recent record.

The BC NDP has struggled for decades to establish a foothold in Peace River North, let alone win the riding. In the 2024 provincial election, its candidate Ian McMahon received 828 votes, well behind Conservative Jordan Kealy with 11,213 and independent Dan Davies with 3,038. Davies is a former BC Liberal/BC United member. Voters in the riding will have just two candidates to choose from this month: Conservative Curtis Whitford and independent Jordan Kealy.

The Conservatives drew attention to the BC NDP’s shortfall in an Oct. 4 announcement celebrating their complete slate. Party leader Lorne Doerkson said the party assembled its team in less than two weeks. Mauro Francis, president of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, said enthusiasm across the province had been incredible. He said local members and volunteers in every region, from small towns to big cities, stepped up to find candidates and get them nominated. British Columbians are ready for change, he said, and that energy is evident in every riding.

The BC NDP said paperwork for its Peace River North candidate was incomplete before Elections BC’s filing deadline. The party instead emphasized its candidates’ experience and diversity. In a statement on Oct. 3, Eby said that fighting for all British Columbians starts with running a team that represents them. He said the candidates bring expertise from all walks of life, understand the challenges people face and will apply their real-world experience to support them.

The BC NDP said women make up 60 per cent of its candidates and 38 candidates are Indigenous or from visible minority communities. It also said 23 people on its slate had previously been elected to municipal government. In the days after the election call, several high-profile cabinet ministers announced they would not seek re-election, including Ravi Kahlon, Kelly Greene, Lana Popham and Brenda Bailey.

The BC Greens are running 73 candidates, followed by CentreBC with 35 and OneBC with 33. Elections BC confirmed 355 candidates overall, including 15 running as independent or unaffiliated candidates. Provincial election day is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, one week after civic elections across B.C. on Saturday, Oct. 17.