Research Co. poll puts Conservatives at 44%, NDP at 42% among decided voters
A Research Co. survey of 808 likely BC voters conducted October 9 to 11 shows the Conservative Party of BC leading the BC NDP by two percentage points.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on researchco.ca.
Research Co. released a new BC election survey on October 13, 2026 showing the Conservative Party of BC at 44% and the BC NDP at 42% among decided voters, with 15% of respondents still undecided eleven days before voting day.
The firm surveyed 808 likely British Columbia voters between October 9 and 11. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the full sample. Among the 687 respondents who had made up their minds, the margin of error rises to 3.7 points, meaning the 2-point gap between the two leading parties falls within that range.
The BC Greens stood at 8%, Centre BC at 2%, and OneBC at 2% among decided voters, according to Research Co.'s release.
Leader ratings
Research Co. also asked respondents how they viewed each party leader. David Eby of the BC NDP received an approval rating of 49% in this survey. Lorne Doerkson of the Conservative Party of BC received 45%. Emily Lowan of the BC Greens received 39%. Elenore Sturko of Centre BC and Dallas Brodie of OneBC each received 26%.
What voters say matters most
The firm asked respondents to name their single most important issue. The economy and jobs came first, named by 25% of likely voters. Housing, poverty, and homelessness came second at 23%. Health care came third at 21%. Crime and public safety was named by 9% of respondents, and government accountability by 7%.
Regional figures
Research Co. reported regional breakdowns. In Northern BC, the Conservatives led at 55% to the NDP's 39%. On Vancouver Island, the NDP led at 52% to the Conservatives' 34%. In Metro Vancouver, the Conservatives stood at 45% and the NDP at 43%. In the Fraser Valley, Conservatives led 49% to 43%, and in Southern BC, 44% to 40%.
Regional figures carry larger margins of error than the province-wide result.
What this means for voters
Advance voting in the BC provincial election opens on October 16, 2026 and runs through October 21. Voting day is October 24. All published polls for this race, including this Research Co. survey, are tracked at /bc/provincial-2026/polls.
Questions this story answers
What did the Research Co. poll find?
Research Co. surveyed 808 likely British Columbia voters between October 9 and 11, 2026. Among decided voters, the Conservative Party of BC stood at 44%, the BC NDP at 42%, the BC Greens at 8%, Centre BC at 2%, and OneBC at 2%. Fifteen percent of respondents said they had not yet decided. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the full sample and 3.7 points for decided voters.
What is the margin of error for this poll?
Research Co. reports a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the full sample of 808 likely voters. For the 687 respondents who had decided on a party, the margin of error is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. A 2-point gap between the two leading parties falls within that margin.
When did Research Co. conduct this survey?
Research Co. conducted this survey of British Columbia likely voters from October 9 to October 11, 2026. Voting day for the provincial election is October 24, 2026, giving eleven days between the end of fieldwork and the vote. Advance voting opens on October 16.
How do the leader approval ratings compare?
Research Co. asked respondents about their view of each leader. David Eby of the BC NDP received an approval rating of 49%. Lorne Doerkson of the Conservative Party of BC received 45%. Emily Lowan of the BC Greens received 39%. Elenore Sturko of Centre BC and Dallas Brodie of OneBC each received 26%.
What issues matter most to BC voters in this poll?
Research Co. asked respondents to name their most important issue. The economy and jobs came first at 25%, followed by housing, poverty, and homelessness at 23%, and health care at 21%. Crime and public safety was named by 9% of respondents, and government accountability by 7%.
How does regional support break down?
Research Co. reported regional figures in its release. In Northern BC, Conservatives led at 55% to the NDP's 39%. On Vancouver Island, the NDP led at 52% to the Conservatives' 34%. In Metro Vancouver, Conservatives stood at 45% and the NDP at 43%. In the Fraser Valley, Conservatives led 49% to 43%. In Southern BC, Conservatives led 44% to 40%. All regional figures are subject to larger margins of error than the province-wide result.
How does this poll compare to earlier surveys?
An Angus Reid poll published on October 8, 2026 and also covered on this site showed leaders' approval ratings. An Angus Reid poll published October 5 showed Conservatives leading. This Research Co. survey, conducted October 9 to 11, continues to show a close race. The /bc/provincial-2026 polls page tracks all published polls and their numbers in one place.
Where can I vote in the BC provincial election?
Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21, 2026. Voting day is October 24. Elections BC lists voting locations for every district. The /bc/provincial-2026 pages on this site link to Elections BC's voting place tool for the district you live in.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Research Co. poll release, October 13, 2026researchco.ca
- BC provincial election polls trackervoche.me
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
Topics
More from voche.me
Surrey and White Rock candidates forum takes place tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Angus Reid poll: 78% of BC adults name something they dislike about David Eby
