--- title: "Vancouver 2026 election: how candidates and parties connect | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/relationships" last_updated: "2026-09-25T22:26:52.945Z" meta: description: "Interactive map of Vancouver’s 2026 candidates and parties, with sourced links: relatives, party changes, agreements, and who led or worked for whom." "og:description": "Interactive map of Vancouver’s 2026 candidates and parties, with sourced links: relatives, party changes, agreements, and who led or worked for whom." "og:title": "Vancouver 2026 election: how candidates and parties connect" "twitter:description": "Interactive map of Vancouver’s 2026 candidates and parties, with sourced links: relatives, party changes, agreements, and who led or worked for whom." "twitter:title": "Vancouver 2026 election: how candidates and parties connect" --- VANCOUVER MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2026 # How Vancouver’s candidates, parties and people connect 129 candidates, 11 parties and 29 connections with a source. Search a name or pick a glowing dot. Loading the graph… Every connection, written out ## What the graph shows Every candidate on the October 17, 2026 ballot runs with a party or on their own. The graph draws those party lists, then adds the connections that reporters have documented: relatives, party changes, agreements between parties, and who founded, led or worked for whom. Each line comes with a source you can open. Party lists come from the City of Vancouver’s official candidate lists. Where reports disagree, the line says so and names each outlet.
Candidates
129
Parties on the ballot
11
Connections with a source
29
People and parties outside the race
5
## Every connection with a source 29 connections, newest first within each group. Party lists are on the [party pages](https://voche.me/parties). Sources were last read on September 24, 2026. ### Earlier parties 18 Candidates who once ran or sat with another party. 1. [Armor Valor](https://voche.me/candidates/armor-valor) and [OneCity](https://voche.me/parties/onecity) sought OneCity slot, 2026May 28, 2026 Armor Valor was one of OneCity’s council nominees but was not among the four chosen in the party’s membership vote. In late May 2026 he announced a run with the Vancouver Liberals. - [Former OneCity council candidate Armor Valor joins Vancouver Liberals](https://www.straight.com/city-culture/former-onecity-council-candidate-armor-valor-joins-vancouver-liberals) Georgia Straight, May 28, 2026 - [Former OneCity hopeful, ex-Park Board manager join Vancouver Liberals slate](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/mark-halyk-shayla-bird-armor-valor-vancouver-liberals-2026-candidates) Daily Hive, May 30, 2026 2. [Rebecca Bligh](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-bligh) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) in ABC until Feb 2025February 14, 2025 Rebecca Bligh joined ABC Vancouver on April 11, 2022 and was re-elected that October. ABC removed her from its caucus on February 14, 2025, saying she was not aligned with its shared priorities. She sat as an independent councillor until she launched Vote Vancouver. - [3 Vancouver city councillors join Ken Sim’s party for next election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/independent-councillors-abc-party-ken-sim) Daily Hive, April 11, 2022 - [ABC Vancouver boots Rebecca Bligh from council caucus](https://globalnews.ca/news/11020156/abc-expels-rebecca-bligh) Global News, February 14, 2025 - [Vancouver city councillor Rebbeca Bligh booted from ABC](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-councillor-rebbeca-bligh-booted-from-abc) Daily Hive, February 14, 2025 3. [Victoria Jung](https://voche.me/candidates/victoria-jung) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) left ABC, Aug 2024August 7, 2024 Victoria Jung was elected school trustee in 2022 with ABC Vancouver. She announced on August 7, 2024 that she was leaving ABC, and stayed on as an independent trustee and school board chair. She joined the Vancouver Liberals in January 2026. - [School board chair quits ABC Vancouver amid integrity commissioner dispute](https://globalnews.ca/news/10688444/abc-defection-integrity-commissioner/amp) Global News, August 8, 2024 - [School Board chair to run for Vancouver City Council in civic election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/victoria-jung-vancouver-liberals-city-council) Daily Hive, January 28, 2026 4. [Scott Jensen](https://voche.me/candidates/scott-jensen) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) left ABC, Dec 2023December 6, 2023 Scott Jensen was elected to the Park Board in 2022 with ABC Vancouver. On December 6, 2023, the day Mayor Ken Sim announced a plan to end the elected Park Board, Jensen and two other commissioners said ABC had removed them. Sim said no one had been removed. All three sat as independents. Jensen joined the Vancouver Liberals in January 2026. - [‘System is broken’: Vancouver mayor announces plan to remove elected park board](https://globalnews.ca/news/10152161/vancouver-park-board-mayor-motion/) Global News, December 6, 2023 - [“We waste taxpayers’ money”: ABC commissioner on Park Board’s existence](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-park-board-waste-taxpayers-money) Daily Hive, December 12, 2023 - [Park Board commissioner joins Vancouver Liberals party ahead of civic election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/scott-jensen-vancouver-liberals-party-park-board-commissioner) Daily Hive, January 18, 2026 5. [Steve Cardwell](https://voche.me/candidates/steve-cardwell) and Vision Vancouver ran for Vision, 2022October 2022 Steve Cardwell was a Vision Vancouver candidate for school trustee in 2022 and was not elected. He is now a OneCity candidate. - [Vision Vancouver reboot confirms 11 candidates for 2022 civic election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vision-vancouver-2022-civic-election-candidates) Daily Hive, May 3, 2022 - [2022 Vancouver municipal election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Vancouver_municipal_election) Wikipedia 6. [John Irwin](https://voche.me/candidates/john-irwin) and Vision Vancouver ran for Vision, 2022October 2022 John Irwin ran for the Park Board again in the October 2022 election as a Vision Vancouver candidate and was not elected. He is now a OneCity candidate. - [Vision Vancouver reboot confirms 11 candidates for 2022 civic election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vision-vancouver-2022-civic-election-candidates) Daily Hive, May 3, 2022 - [2022 Vancouver municipal election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Vancouver_municipal_election) Wikipedia - [OneCity confirms 13 candidates for Vancouver election, including Frances Bula](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/onecity-vancouver-confirmed-candidates-2026-election) Daily Hive, May 12, 2026 7. [Tricia Barker](https://voche.me/candidates/tricia-barker) and [TEAM for a Livable Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/team-for-a-livable-vancouver) joined TEAM slate, Sept 2022September 1, 2022 Tricia Barker left the NPA on September 1, 2022 to run for TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. She now runs with the Vancouver Liberals. - [Two park board candidates defect from NPA to TEAM with weeks to Vancouver elections](https://globalnews.ca/news/9100701/npa-park-board-quit-team/) Global News, September 1, 2022 - [NPA park board candidates Kumi Kimura and incumbent Tricia Barker join TEAM for a Livable Vancouver slate](https://www.straight.com/news/npa-park-board-candidates-kimi-kimura-and-incumbent-tricia-barker-join-team-for-a-livable) Georgia Straight, September 1, 2022 - [Vancouver’s 2026 civic election candidate list is set: All 130 names in ballot order](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-2026-civic-election-candidates-ballot-order) Daily Hive, September 22, 2026 8. [Tricia Barker](https://voche.me/candidates/tricia-barker) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) left NPA, Sept 2022September 1, 2022 Tricia Barker was first elected to the Park Board in 2018 on the NPA slate. On September 1, 2022 she and Kumi Kimura left the NPA to run for TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, which left the NPA with no incumbent park commissioner seeking re-election. - [Two park board candidates defect from NPA to TEAM with weeks to Vancouver elections](https://globalnews.ca/news/9100701/npa-park-board-quit-team/) Global News, September 1, 2022 - [NPA park board candidates Kumi Kimura and incumbent Tricia Barker join TEAM for a Livable Vancouver slate](https://www.straight.com/news/npa-park-board-candidates-kimi-kimura-and-incumbent-tricia-barker-join-team-for-a-livable) Georgia Straight, September 1, 2022 9. [John Coupar](https://voche.me/candidates/john-coupar) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) NPA mayoral pick, to Aug 2022August 2022 John Coupar won three elections to the Park Board with the NPA. The NPA board named him its 2022 mayoral candidate on April 5, 2021, and he resigned as that candidate in August 2022. He is now a Vancouver Liberals candidate for council. - [John Coupar nominated as the NPA’s Vancouver Mayoral candidate for 2022](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/john-coupar-npa-vancouver-mayoral-candidate) Daily Hive, April 5, 2021 - [Vancouver Park board commissioner John Coupar exits Vancouver mayor race](https://globalnews.ca/news/9040527/vancouver-mayor-race-john-coupar-resignation/) Global News, August 5, 2022 - [John Coupar to run for Vancouver City Council under Liberals civic party](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/john-coupar-vancouver-liberals-city-council-election) Daily Hive, August 6, 2026 10. [Arezo Zarrabian](https://voche.me/candidates/arezo-zarrabian) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) NPA council candidate, 2022May 2022 Arezo Zarrabian was named an NPA candidate for city council in May 2022 and was not elected. She is now an ABC Vancouver candidate for council. - [NPA names candidates for 2022 civic election, signals it will be tough on crime](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/non-partisan-association-2022-vancouver-civic-election-candidates-npa) Daily Hive, May 25, 2022 - [2022 Vancouver municipal election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Vancouver_municipal_election) Wikipedia - [Ken Sim’s ABC party names four new Vancouver City Council candidates](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/abc-vancouver-city-council-candidates-2026-election-zarrabian-gillespie-lowe-grewal) Daily Hive, August 27, 2026 11. [John Irwin](https://voche.me/candidates/john-irwin) and [COPE](https://voche.me/parties/cope) left COPE, March 2022March 17, 2022 John Irwin was elected to the Park Board in 2018 as a COPE candidate. On March 17, 2022 he left COPE for Vision Vancouver and sat as a Vision commissioner for the rest of the term. - [Park Board commissioner John Irwin ditches COPE for Vision Vancouver](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/john-irwin-vision-vancouver-park-board) Daily Hive, March 17, 2022 - [OneCity confirms 13 candidates for Vancouver election, including Frances Bula](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/onecity-vancouver-confirmed-candidates-2026-election) Daily Hive, May 12, 2026 12. [Christopher JK Richardson](https://voche.me/candidates/christopher-jk-richardson) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) dropped by ABC, 20222022 Christopher JK Richardson was on the 2022 ballot as an ABC Vancouver school board candidate. ABC removed him during the campaign, and voters elected him anyway. He has sat as an independent since. - [Closed Door Meetings, a Police Call, a Stalled Motion](https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/03/13/Closed-Door-Meetings-Police-Call-Stalled-Motion/) The Tyee, March 13, 2025 - [2022 Vancouver municipal election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Vancouver_municipal_election) Wikipedia - [SIM CITY: Full list of Vancouver’s new City Council, Park Board and School Board](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-2022-election-city-council-park-board-school-board-results) Daily Hive, October 16, 2022 13. [Lisa Dominato](https://voche.me/candidates/lisa-dominato) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) left NPA, April 2021April 21, 2021 Lisa Dominato was elected to council with the NPA in 2018. She left the party on April 21, 2021 with Sarah Kirby-Yung and Colleen Hardwick, and joined ABC Vancouver on April 11, 2022. - [Trio of Vancouver councillors exit NPA over ‘backroom deal’ to appoint mayoral candidate](https://globalnews.ca/news/7777911/trio-of-vancouver-councillors-exit-npa-over-backroom-deal-to-appoint-mayoral-candidate/) Global News, April 21, 2021 - [3 Vancouver city councillors join Ken Sim’s party for next election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/independent-councillors-abc-party-ken-sim) Daily Hive, April 11, 2022 - [ABC Vancouver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_Vancouver) Wikipedia 14. [Sarah Kirby-Yung](https://voche.me/candidates/sarah-kirby-yung) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) left NPA, April 2021April 21, 2021 Sarah Kirby-Yung was elected to council with the NPA in 2018. She left the party on April 21, 2021 with Lisa Dominato and Colleen Hardwick, and joined ABC Vancouver on April 11, 2022. - [Trio of Vancouver councillors exit NPA over ‘backroom deal’ to appoint mayoral candidate](https://globalnews.ca/news/7777911/trio-of-vancouver-councillors-exit-npa-over-backroom-deal-to-appoint-mayoral-candidate/) Global News, April 21, 2021 - [3 Vancouver city councillors join Ken Sim’s party for next election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/independent-councillors-abc-party-ken-sim) Daily Hive, April 11, 2022 - [ABC Vancouver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_Vancouver) Wikipedia 15. [Colleen Hardwick](https://voche.me/candidates/colleen-hardwick) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) left NPA, April 2021April 21, 2021 Colleen Hardwick won a council seat with the NPA in 2018. On April 21, 2021 she left the party, together with Lisa Dominato and Sarah Kirby-Yung, after the NPA board named John Coupar its 2022 mayoral candidate. She sat as an independent and joined TEAM for a Livable Vancouver in September 2021. - [Trio of Vancouver councillors exit NPA over ‘backroom deal’ to appoint mayoral candidate](https://globalnews.ca/news/7777911/trio-of-vancouver-councillors-exit-npa-over-backroom-deal-to-appoint-mayoral-candidate/) Global News, April 21, 2021 - [Three Vancouver city councillors leave Non-Partisan Association over controversies](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/non-partisan-association-vancouver-city-councillors-resign) Daily Hive, April 21, 2021 - [Vancouver councillor Colleen Hardwick nominated as TEAM mayoral candidate](https://globalnews.ca/news/8680211/hardwick-mayoral-bid-2022) Global News, March 13, 2022 - [Vancouver councillor Colleen Hardwick joins new party called TEAM for a Livable Vancouver](https://www.straight.com/news/vancouver-councillor-colleen-hardwick-joins-new-party-called-team-for-a-livable-vancouver) Georgia Straight, September 29, 2021 16. [Rebecca Bligh](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-bligh) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) left NPA, Dec 2019December 6, 2019 Rebecca Bligh was elected to council with the NPA in 2018. She left the party on December 6, 2019, citing concerns about new members of the NPA board, and sat as an independent until she joined ABC Vancouver in April 2022. - [Vancouver councillor Rebecca Bligh resigns from NPA over alleged anti-SOGI board members](https://globalnews.ca/news/6267038/vancouver-rebecca-bligh-city-council-npa/) Global News, December 7, 2019 - [Vancouver councillor Rebecca Bligh quits NPA to become an independent](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/rebecca-bligh-resigns-npa) Daily Hive, December 7, 2019 - [ABC Vancouver boots Rebecca Bligh from council caucus](https://globalnews.ca/news/11020156/abc-expels-rebecca-bligh) Global News, February 14, 2025 17. [Ken Sim](https://voche.me/candidates/ken-sim) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) NPA candidate for mayor, 20182018 Ken Sim ran for mayor with the NPA in 2018 and lost to Kennedy Stewart by 957 votes. He won the 2022 mayoral election as the ABC Vancouver candidate. - [Ken Sim to lead new party as mayoral candidate in 2022 Vancouver election](https://globalnews.ca/news/8263787/ken-sim-vancouver-mayor-candidate-a-better-city) Global News, October 13, 2021 - [Ken Sim of the ABC party wins Vancouver mayoral election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ken-sim-wins-vancouver-mayoral-election-2022) Daily Hive, October 16, 2022 18. [Mike Klassen](https://voche.me/candidates/mike-klassen) and Non-Partisan Association (NPA) NPA council candidate, 20112011 Mike Klassen ran for council with the NPA in 2011 and finished 779 votes behind Green councillor Adriane Carr, who took the last seat. He won a council seat in 2022 as an ABC Vancouver candidate. - [Mike Klassen to run for Vancouver City Council under ABC party](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/abc-vancouver-city-councillor-mike-klassen) Daily Hive, July 13, 2022 - [2011 election results](https://wayback.archive-it.org/13140/20191216225018/http://former.vancouver.ca/electionresults2011/2011ElectionResults.xls) City of Vancouver (archived copy) - [SIM CITY: Full list of Vancouver’s new City Council, Park Board and School Board](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-2022-election-city-council-park-board-school-board-results) Daily Hive, October 16, 2022 ### Family 2 Relatives named in published reporting. 1. [Colleen Hardwick](https://voche.me/candidates/colleen-hardwick) and [Kat Nystedt](https://voche.me/candidates/kat-nystedt) mother and daughter Kat Nystedt, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver’s first school board candidate for 2026, is the daughter of Colleen Hardwick, TEAM’s candidate for mayor. - [Colleen Hardwick’s daughter among TEAM’s five new candidates in Vancouver election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/team-colleen-hardwick-additional-candidates-vancouver-election-august-2026) Daily Hive, August 6, 2026 2. Hedy Fry and [Pete Fry](https://voche.me/candidates/pete-fry) mother and son Pete Fry, the Green Party of Vancouver’s candidate for mayor, is the son of Hedy Fry, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre. - [It’s official: Pete Fry is Green party’s first Vancouver mayoral candidate in 30 years](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pete-fry-vancouver-mayoral-candidate-green-party-official) Daily Hive, January 30, 2026 - [Vancouver Greens’ Pete Fry Is Running for Mayor](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/15/Vancouver-Greens-Pete-Fry-Running-Mayor/) The Tyee, April 15, 2026 ### Support and agreements 4 Who backed whom, who stepped aside, and which parties made a deal. 1. William Azaroff and [Pete Fry](https://voche.me/candidates/pete-fry) backed Fry, Sept 8September 8, 2026 When he stepped aside, William Azaroff backed Green councillor Pete Fry as the one remaining progressive candidate. Daily Hive reports that he endorsed Fry. The Tyee reports that he and Stephanie Allen implied their support without an explicit endorsement, and cites uncertainty about Elections BC rules on endorsing another party. - [William Azaroff makes the Vancouver mayoral announcement many expected](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/william-azaroff-vancouver-election-mayoral-announcement-sept-8) Daily Hive, September 8, 2026 - [Azaroff exits Vancouver mayoral race, leaves Pete Fry as lone progressive](https://globalnews.ca/news/12051512/vancouver-mayor-race-william-azaroff-withdraws/) Global News, September 8, 2026 - [And Then There Was One Progressive Running for Vancouver Mayor](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/09/09/One-Progressive-Running-Vancouver-Mayor/) The Tyee, September 9, 2026 2. William Azaroff and [OneCity](https://voche.me/parties/onecity) ended mayoral run, Sept 8September 8, 2026 William Azaroff, OneCity’s candidate for mayor, ended his campaign on September 8, 2026. - [Azaroff exits Vancouver mayoral race, leaves Pete Fry as lone progressive](https://globalnews.ca/news/12051512/vancouver-mayor-race-william-azaroff-withdraws/) Global News, September 8, 2026 - [William Azaroff makes the Vancouver mayoral announcement many expected](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/william-azaroff-vancouver-election-mayoral-announcement-sept-8) Daily Hive, September 8, 2026 - [And Then There Was One Progressive Running for Vancouver Mayor](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/09/09/One-Progressive-Running-Vancouver-Mayor/) The Tyee, September 9, 2026 3. Stephanie Allen and [COPE](https://voche.me/parties/cope) ended mayoral run, Sept 2September 2, 2026 Stephanie Allen, COPE’s candidate for mayor, ended her campaign on September 2, 2026 and urged the other progressive candidates to unite behind one person. CBC reported that she endorsed neither the Greens nor OneCity. - [COPE’s Stephanie Allen withdraws from Vancouver mayoral race](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cope-mayor-allen-withdraws-9.7329958) CBC News, September 2, 2026 - [And Then There Was One Progressive Running for Vancouver Mayor](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/09/09/One-Progressive-Running-Vancouver-Mayor/) The Tyee, September 9, 2026 4. [OneCity](https://voche.me/parties/onecity), [Green Party of Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/green-party-of-vancouver) and [COPE](https://voche.me/parties/cope) April 2026 agreementApril 15, 2026 On April 15, 2026, COPE, OneCity and the Green Party of Vancouver announced that each would run up to 13 candidates for council, school board and park board combined. Each party may still run its own candidate for mayor. - [Vancouver’s three left-wing parties agree to limit candidates in civic election](https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cope-green-onecity-vancouver-2026-election-agreement) Daily Hive, April 15, 2026 - [Vancouver’s Progressive Parties Are Trying to Work Together](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/21/Vancouver-Progressive-Parties-Trying-Work-Together/) The Tyee, April 21, 2026 ### Leaders and staff 5 Who started or leads a party, and who worked for whom. 1. [Rebecca Bligh](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-bligh) and [Vote Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver) launched the party, Sept 2025September 22, 2025 Rebecca Bligh launched Vote Vancouver and announced her run for mayor on September 22, 2025. ABC Vancouver had removed her from its caucus in February 2025. - [Vancouver city councillor kicked out of ruling party announces mayoral bid](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-city-councillor-kicked-ruling-180346776.html) CBC News (via Yahoo News Canada), September 22, 2025 - [ABC Vancouver boots Rebecca Bligh from council caucus](https://globalnews.ca/news/11020156/abc-expels-rebecca-bligh) Global News, February 14, 2025 2. [Kareem Allam](https://voche.me/candidates/kareem-allam) and [Vancouver Liberals](https://voche.me/parties/vancouver-liberals) founded the party, July 2025July 3, 2025 Kareem Allam founded the Vancouver Liberals, which registered with Elections BC on July 3, 2025, and leads the party. He is its candidate for mayor. - [Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff starts new political party](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-mayors-former-chief-staff-014318864.html) Vancouver Sun (via Yahoo News Canada), July 4, 2025 - [Vancouver Liberal Electors Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Liberal_Electors_Association) Wikipedia 3. [Stephen Molnar](https://voche.me/candidates/stephen-molnar) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) party presidentApril 2025 Stephen Molnar is the president of ABC Vancouver. Global News named him in that role in February 2025 and The Walrus in April 2025. - [ABC Vancouver boots Rebecca Bligh from council caucus](https://globalnews.ca/news/11020156/abc-expels-rebecca-bligh) Global News, February 14, 2025 - [Is Vancouver Fed Up with Its Mayor?](https://thewalrus.ca/is-vancouver-fed-up-with-its-mayor/) The Walrus, April 3, 2025 4. [Kareem Allam](https://voche.me/candidates/kareem-allam) and [Ken Sim](https://voche.me/candidates/ken-sim) chief of staff, to Feb 2023February 2023 After the October 2022 election, Kareem Allam became Mayor Ken Sim’s first chief of staff. He left the job in February 2023, 89 days after it began, according to the Vancouver Sun. - [Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff starts new political party](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-mayors-former-chief-staff-014318864.html) Vancouver Sun (via Yahoo News Canada), July 4, 2025 - [From manager to rival: Kareem Allam eyes Ken Sim’s job in 2026 election](https://thebreaker.news/news/kareem-allam-explores-mayoralty-run/) theBreaker, June 9, 2025 5. [Kareem Allam](https://voche.me/candidates/kareem-allam) and [ABC Vancouver](https://voche.me/parties/abc-vancouver) ABC campaign manager, 2022October 2022 Kareem Allam managed ABC Vancouver’s campaign in the 2022 election, which ABC won. - [From manager to rival: Kareem Allam eyes Ken Sim’s job in 2026 election](https://thebreaker.news/news/kareem-allam-explores-mayoralty-run/) theBreaker, June 9, 2025 - [Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff starts new political party](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vancouver-mayors-former-chief-staff-014318864.html) Vancouver Sun (via Yahoo News Canada), July 4, 2025 ## How this graph was built Party lists are read from the City of Vancouver’s official candidate lists for [mayor](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-candidates-mayor.aspx), [council](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-candidates-councillor.aspx), [park board](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-candidates-park-board-commissioner.aspx) and [school trustee](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-candidates-school-trustee.aspx). Naomi Chocyk stands for both council and school board, so she is one circle that shows under both offices. Every other line needs at least one source from a news outlet, a public record or a reference work. A party’s own website tells only the party’s side, so no connection here rests on it. Where no source reports a link between two names, the graph draws none. The layout program places each candidate near their party and pulls connected names closer together. The exact position of a circle has no other meaning. Circles are people, squares are parties, and colour follows the party colours used across voche.me, lightened so they show on the dark background. The graph is drawn with [falkordb-canvas](https://github.com/FalkorDB/falkordb-canvas), free software released under the MIT license. [Read the licenses](https://voche.me/falkordb-canvas-license.txt). Spotted a mistake or a missing connection? [Tell the editors](https://voche.me/report) and name the page and the source. ## Questions about these connections
Are any candidates in Vancouver’s 2026 election related to each other? Yes. Kat Nystedt, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver’s first school board candidate for 2026, is the daughter of Colleen Hardwick, TEAM’s candidate for mayor. Pete Fry, the Green Party of Vancouver’s candidate for mayor, is the son of Hedy Fry, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre. Reporters named both relationships, and each is listed with its sources on this page.
Which 2026 Vancouver candidates ran or sat with a different party before? 15 candidates have an earlier party that a published source documents: Armor Valor, Steve Cardwell, John Irwin, Christopher JK Richardson, Victoria Jung, Scott Jensen, Mike Klassen, Arezo Zarrabian, Ken Sim, Tricia Barker, John Coupar, Rebecca Bligh, Lisa Dominato, Sarah Kirby-Yung and Colleen Hardwick. 9 of these earlier ties lead to the Non-Partisan Association, which has no candidates on the 2026 ballot.
Did any Vancouver parties make an agreement about the 2026 election? Yes. On April 15, 2026, COPE, OneCity and the Green Party of Vancouver announced that each would run up to 13 candidates for council, school board and park board combined. Each party may still run its own candidate for mayor.
Who withdrew from Vancouver’s 2026 mayoral race? William Azaroff, OneCity’s candidate for mayor, ended his campaign on September 8, 2026. Stephanie Allen, COPE’s candidate for mayor, ended her campaign on September 2, 2026 and urged the other progressive candidates to unite behind one person. CBC reported that she endorsed neither the Greens nor OneCity. When he stepped aside, William Azaroff backed Green councillor Pete Fry as the one remaining progressive candidate. Daily Hive reports that he endorsed Fry. The Tyee reports that he and Stephanie Allen implied their support without an explicit endorsement, and cites uncertainty about Elections BC rules on endorsing another party.
Is the Non-Partisan Association running candidates in 2026? No. The Non-Partisan Association (NPA) has no candidates on the 2026 ballot, according to the Daily Hive list of ballot entries published September 22, 2026.
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