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2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

In 2026, the Conservative Party of British Columbia will hold 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.

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. 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. However, in the immediate aftermath, five Conservative MLAs refused to acknowledge the board's decision and said that Rustad remained party leader, 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. During his resignation speech, he announced that he would also not stand for re-election at the next election.

Rules

Candidates must 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 is February 15; they must contain 250 member signatures from at least five of the province's regions. Once approved, candidates must pay a second $10,000 fee, followed by $40,000 by April 1, and $60,000 by April 18. There will be a $2,000,000 spending limit, with 20% of all monthly donations going to the party. The election itself will be held using a weighted electoral district system, with each provincial riding allocated 100 points; ridings with fewer than 100 ballots will be 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 sign 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.

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.
  • December 4 – Rustad announces his resignation as party leader, and Halford officially becomes interim leader.
  • December 15 – Businessman Warren Hamm announces his candidacy.

2026

  • January 3 – The leadership election organizing committee, the body that governs the contest, is formed.
  • January 6 – Businessman Yuri Fulmer announces his candidacy.
  • January 8 – Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo, announces his candidacy.
  • January 13 – Caroline Elliott, former BC United vice-president, announces her candidacy.
  • January 15 – Iain Black, former BC Liberal MLA for Port Moody-Westwood, announces his candidacy.
  • January 16 – Party announces leadership race date for May 30 and the rules of the race. Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, announces his candidacy.
  • January 27 – Former president of the Pattison Food Group Darrell Jones announces his candidacy.
  • January 29 – Kerry-Lynne Findlay, former Conservative Cabinet Minister and MP for South Surrey—White Rock, announces her candidacy.
  • February 2 – Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, announces his candidacy.
  • February 3 – Steve Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough, announces his candidacy.
  • February 15 – Deadline to submit candidacy applications. Former Party Leader John Rustad announced he would not enter the leadership race after previously requesting and receiving a leadership application.
  • February 18 – Harman Bhangu, MLA for Langley-Abbotsford, announces his candidacy.
  • February 27 – Clare and Kooner drop out of the race.
  • February 28 – Banman, Bhangu, Black, Elliott, Findlay, Fulmer, Hamm, Jones, and Milobar are officially approved as candidates having paid the $5,000 preliminary entry fee and collected signatures from at least 250 party members across the province, and had their application approved.
  • March 15 – Banman suspends campaign and endorses Yuri Fulmer.
  • March 16 – Bhangu suspends campaign and endorses Caroline Elliott.
  • March 28 – Jones suspends campaign and endorses Caroline Elliott.
  • April 1 – Deadline to pay $40,000 fee.
  • April 18 – Membership sign up cutoff. Deadline to pay $60,000 fee.
  • May 9 – Voting begins.
  • May 30 – Announcement of the new leader.

Candidates

Approved

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Opinion polling among Conservative Party voters

Polling after candidate deadline

Hypothetical polling before candidate deadline

Notes

References

External links