Conservative Cathie Ounsted leads Saanich South, flipping a seat NDP held since 2009
Cathie Ounsted of the Conservative Party leads Saanich South with 10,549 votes to BC NDP candidate Richard Zussman's 9,322, with all 81 ballot boxes counted in the preliminary count, Elections BC shows. The final count is November 6.
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Conservative Cathie Ounsted leads Saanich South in Elections BC's preliminary count, ahead of BC NDP candidate Richard Zussman. The BC NDP held the seat since 2009.
Elections BC shows all 81 ballot boxes in Saanich South reported as of 1:49 a.m. Pacific on October 25.
The count
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathie Ounsted | Conservative Party of BC | 10,549 | 39.24% |
| Richard Zussman | BC NDP | 9,322 | 34.68% |
| Lisa Lapointe | BC Green Party | 6,985 | 25.98% |
Total valid votes: 26,856. These are Elections BC's numbers as of 1:49 a.m. Pacific on October 25, 2026.
These numbers are preliminary. Elections BC does not count mail-in, telephone or absentee ballots on election night. The final count is set for November 6, 2026.
Zussman
Richard Zussman left journalism to run for the BC NDP in Saanich South. Daily Hive reported he worked at Global BC and CKNW Radio, where he covered the legislature. This was his first campaign for office.
He received 9,322 votes, 34.68 per cent of the preliminary count in Saanich South.
Lapointe
Lisa Lapointe ran for the BC Green Party. Daily Hive reported she was the former B.C. Chief Coroner. She received 6,985 votes, 25.98 per cent of the preliminary count.
The final count
Elections BC does not count mail-in, telephone or absentee ballots in the preliminary count. Those ballots are processed about two weeks after voting day, after extra verification steps. Elections BC has set the final count for November 6, 2026.
In Saanich South, Ounsted's preliminary lead of 1,227 votes over Zussman means the seat's outcome could still shift before November 6 if the remaining mail-in and absentee ballots favour one candidate by a large margin.
The Saanich South district page on this site lists all three candidates and will be updated as the count continues. Elections BC publishes its count at results.elections.bc.ca, updated every three minutes during counting.
Questions this story answers
Who leads Saanich South in the BC election?
Cathie Ounsted of the Conservative Party leads Saanich South in Elections BC's preliminary count. As of 1:49 a.m. Pacific on October 25, 2026, with all 81 ballot boxes reported, she had 10,549 votes (39.24%). BC NDP candidate Richard Zussman had 9,322 votes (34.68%). BC Green candidate Lisa Lapointe had 6,985 votes (25.98%). These results are preliminary; the final count is November 6.
Who held Saanich South before the 2026 BC election?
The BC NDP held Saanich South since 2009. In 2026, Richard Zussman ran as the NDP candidate. His predecessor, Lana Popham, held the seat for many years before stepping aside. If Ounsted's preliminary lead holds through the final count on November 6, the Conservatives would take the seat from the NDP.
Who is Richard Zussman?
Richard Zussman was a legislative journalist in British Columbia before running for the BC NDP in Saanich South. Daily Hive reported he worked at Global BC and CKNW Radio, where he covered the legislature. This was his first political campaign. He received 9,322 votes (34.68%) in the preliminary count, behind Conservative Cathie Ounsted's 10,549.
Who is Cathie Ounsted?
Cathie Ounsted is the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Saanich South. Elections BC's preliminary count shows her ahead with 10,549 votes and 39.24 per cent of the vote, with all 81 ballot boxes reporting. If her lead holds through the final count on November 6, 2026, she will become the MLA for Saanich South.
Who is Lisa Lapointe?
Lisa Lapointe ran for the BC Green Party in Saanich South. Daily Hive reported she was the former B.C. Chief Coroner. She received 6,985 votes (25.98%) in Elections BC's preliminary count, behind both Conservative Cathie Ounsted and NDP candidate Richard Zussman.
Are the Saanich South results final?
The results as of 1:49 a.m. Pacific on October 25 are preliminary. All 81 ballot boxes in Saanich South have reported for the preliminary count, but Elections BC does not count mail-in, telephone or absentee ballots on election night. Those are counted about two weeks later. The final count is set for November 6, 2026. Until then, Ounsted's lead is preliminary, not a confirmed win.
What was the vote count in Saanich South?
Elections BC's preliminary count for Saanich South, with all 81 ballot boxes reported as of 1:49 a.m. Pacific on October 25, shows: Conservative Cathie Ounsted, 10,549 votes (39.24%); BC NDP Richard Zussman, 9,322 votes (34.68%); BC Green Lisa Lapointe, 6,985 votes (25.98%). Total valid votes: 26,856.
Where can I find more information about Saanich South candidates?
The Saanich South district page on this site at /bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/saanich-south lists all candidates who ran there. Each candidate has a profile page: Cathie Ounsted at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/cathie-ounsted, Richard Zussman at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/richard-zussman, and Lisa Lapointe at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lisa-lapointe.
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