Conservative Party of BC: History and past elections
history and past elections for Conservative Party of BC, with the source and the date beside each entry.
HISTORY AND PAST ELECTIONS
History and past elections
1903: first BC election fought on party lines
The Canadian Encyclopedia records that in 1903 Conservative Richard McBride became the first premier to win a BC election fought along party lines. He served as premier for 12 years.
1952: Social Credit breaks away
In 1952 a new party led by W.A.C. Bennett broke away from the Conservative Party and took the name Social Credit, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.
March 2023: John Rustad becomes leader
Rustad, expelled from the BC Liberal caucus in 2022, joined the party in February 2023 and was named leader in March 2023. In September 2023 Bruce Banman joined him, giving the party two MLAs.
2024 election: 44 seats and Official Opposition
The party ran 93 candidates, won 44 seats and received 911,153 votes, 43.28 per cent of the valid votes. The BC NDP won 47 seats.
March 2025: three MLAs leave to sit as Independents
Dallas Brodie, Jordan Kealy and Tara Armstrong announced they would sit together as Independents, after Rustad removed Brodie over posts about residential schools, CJDC-TV reported.
Rustad leaves the leadership
Rustad officially stopped being leader on December 4, 2025, according to CBC News. Trevor Halford served as interim leader until the 2026 leadership vote.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay wins the leadership
Findlay won on the fourth round with 51.0 per cent of points to Caroline Elliott’s 49.0 per cent. Iain Black, Yuri Fulmer and Peter Milobar were eliminated in earlier rounds.
Conservative Party of British ColumbiaBlack Press Media (Chilliwack Progress)
Findlay resigns; Doerkson becomes interim leader
Findlay resigned after 14 MLAs left caucus during her time as leader. Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader the same day, Global News reported.
Election called; departed MLAs return
On the day David Eby called the election, Peter Milobar and six other MLAs who had joined CentreBC returned to the Conservatives, and the party said Brennan Day had also returned.
Sitting MLAs approved as candidates; Rustad will not run again
The party said its Election Readiness Committee approved every sitting member of its caucus to run, and that John Rustad would not seek re-election.
Sources
A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.
- Registered political parties in British Columbia, as of September 30, 2026 Elections BC · published · checked
- Provincial candidate list, 2026 general election Elections BC · checked
- Statement of votes, 2024 provincial general election Elections BC · checked
- Current party standings Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · checked
- Annual allowances Elections BC · checked
- Financial reporting and political contributions Elections BC · checked
- Financial Reports and Political Contributions System Elections BC · checked
- Hansard, April 1, 2026, afternoon sitting Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · published · checked
- Hansard, April 22, 2026, afternoon sitting Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · published · checked
- Hansard, May 28, 2026, afternoon sitting Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · published · checked
- Conservative Party of BC home page SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Meet your Conservative team SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Lorne Doerkson candidate page SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Caroline Elliott candidate page SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Our platform SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Latest news and updates SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Make British Columbia an Energy Superpower (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- BC Energy Superpower Plan (PDF) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- BC Conservatives welcome LNG Canada Phase 2 (statement) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Conservatives to remove PST from Canadian alcohol (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Conservative Party of BC pledges no new taxes (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Statement from leader Lorne Doerkson on the NDP housing tax plan SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Every Conservative Party of BC MLA approved to run as a candidate (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Conservative Party of BC announces Surrey candidates (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- White Rock Mayor Megan Knight to run in Surrey South (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- The NDP called this election (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Standing up to Trump (release) SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Official documents SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Vote results, Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership 2026 SAYS SO ITSELFConservative Party of British Columbia · published · checked
- Annual financial report for 2025, with auditors’ report, as posted by the party Conservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Statements of assets, liabilities, income and expenses for 2024, as posted by the party Conservative Party of British Columbia · checked
- Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigns as leader of the B.C. Conservative Party CBC News · published · checked
- Lorne Doerkson named B.C. Conservatives interim leader following Findlay resignation CBC News · published · checked
- A look back at Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s 4 months as BC Conservative leader Global News · published · checked
- 5 MLAs, including former leader, returning to B.C. Conservative caucus as prospect of election looms The Canadian Press, via CBC News · published · checked
- CentreBC MLAs defect back to the B.C. Conservatives after snap election call Vista Radio (AM 1150) · published · checked
- Kamloops Centre MLA Milobar rejoins BC Conservatives CFJC Today · published · checked
- B.C. Conservatives vow new rule to keep Doerkson leader, as Rustad exits The Canadian Press, via Energeticcity.ca · published · checked
- Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad not running for re-election CBC News · published · checked
- Canadian Press report on the Conservative campaign and Caroline Elliott’s candidacy The Canadian Press, via 650 CKOM · published · checked
- Lorne Doerkson talks values as he leads B.C. Conservatives into election CBC News · published · checked
- BC Conservatives promise no new taxes if elected Global News · published · checked
- B.C. Conservative leader pledges to triple LNG production Black Press Media (Agassiz Harrison Observer) · published · checked
- Party leaders make economic, budget promises in Week 2 of B.C. election campaign The Canadian Press, via Yahoo Finance Canada · published · checked
- Doerkson promises to cut PST on Canadian alcohol Black Press Media (The Northern View) · published · checked
- Kerry-Lynne Findlay will be the next leader of the B.C. Conservative Party Black Press Media (Chilliwack Progress) · published · checked
- Jordan Kealy departs from B.C. Conservatives to sit as Independent CJDC-TV · published · checked
- How Rustad and Conservatives reshaped B.C.’s political map Business in Vancouver, via Powell River Peak · published · checked
- Politics in British Columbia The Canadian Encyclopedia · checked