2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

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

2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

Rustad, who was acclaimed leader in (/wiki/2023ConservativePartyofBritishColumbialeadershipelection), 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

2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Candidate</th><th>Experience</th><th>Announcement date</th><th>Slogan</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Iain Black</td><td></td><td>January 15, 2026</td><td>"Get BC Back on Track"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caroline Elliott</td><td></td><td>January 13, 2026</td><td>"Win For BC"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kerry-Lynne Findlay</td><td></td><td>January 29, 2026</td><td>"More Freedom Less Government!"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Yuri Fulmer</td><td></td><td>January 6, 2026</td><td>"Real Leadership"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Warren Hamm</td><td></td><td>December 15, 2025</td><td>"Builders-Not Bureaucrats"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Peter Milobar</td><td></td><td>January 16, 2026</td><td>"Ready to Lead BC"</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Withdrawn

<table><thead><tr><th>Candidate</th><th>Experience</th><th>Announcement date</th><th>Withdrawal date</th><th>Slogan</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Harman Bhangu</td><td></td><td>February 18, 2026</td><td>March 16, 2026 (endorsed Elliott)</td><td>"Let's Rebuild BC Together"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bruce Banman</td><td></td><td>February 2, 2026</td><td>March 15, 2026 (endorsed Fulmer)</td><td>"Conservative Without Apology"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sheldon Clare</td><td></td><td>January 8, 2026</td><td>February 27, 2026</td><td>"It's Clear – It's Clare"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Darrell Jones</td><td></td><td>January 27, 2026</td><td>March 28, 2026 (endorsed Elliott)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Steve Kooner</td><td></td><td>February 3, 2026</td><td>February 27, 2026 (endorsed Findlay)</td><td>"Bring Back BC"</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Declined

• Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia (2011–2017), Leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party (2011–2017) • Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission (2024–present) • Chris Gardner, President and CEO of Independent Contractors and Businesses Association • Kiel Giddens, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie (2024–present) • Aaron Gunn, MP for North Island—Powell River (2025–present) • Trevor Halford, MLA for Surrey-White Rock, interim Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia (2025–present) • James Moore, MP for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam (2000–2015), federal Cabinet minister (2008–2015) (endorsed Black) • Ellis Ross, MP for Skeena—Bulkley Valley (2025–present), MLA for Skeena (2017–2024) • John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia (2023–2025), Leader of the Opposition of British Columbia (2024–2025) • Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale (2024–present), MLA for Surrey South (2022–2024) (sits as an independent in the legislature) • Dianne Watts, MP for South Surrey—White Rock (2015–2017), Mayor of Surrey (2005–2014), Surrey City Councillor (1996–2005), runner-up in the 2018 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election (endorsed Black) • Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam (2018–present)

Opinion polling among Conservative Party voters

Polling after candidate deadline

Polling source	Link	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Harman Bhangu	Iain Black	Caroline Elliott	Kerry-Lynne Findlay	Yuri Fulmer	Darrell Jones	Peter Milobar	Warren Hamm	Other/ Undecided
		March 28, 2026	Jones suspends campaign
Mainstreet		March 19-22, 2026	2,578	1.93%	–	8.4%	21.2%	8.1%	5.4%	3.9%	20.8%	0.6%	31.6%
		March 15-16, 2026	Banman and Bhangu suspend campaigns
Pallas Data		March 2, 2026	1,256	+/- 2.8%	4%	7%	15%	7%	3%	7%	9%	–	Other 2% Undecided 47%

Hypothetical polling before candidate deadline

Polling source	Link	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Iain Black	Sheldon Clare	Caroline Elliott	Kerry-Lynne Findlay	Yuri Fulmer	Aaron Gunn	Darrell Jones	Peter Milobar	Other/ Undecided
		February 27, 2026	Clare and Kooner suspend campaigns
Pallas Data		February 15–19, 2026	401	+/- 3.1%	6%	–	16%	3%	2%	–	9%	5%	Other 5% Undecided 54%
Western Standard		January 2026	578	–	8.5%	18.4%	17.1%	–	20.5%	–	16.7%	18.8%	Undecided 47.4%
		December 24, 2025	Gunn declines to run
Mainstreet Research		December 17–18, 2025	1,902	–	4%	–	1%	1%	1%	18%	–	6%	Other 3% Undecided 66%
Pallas Data		December 11–13, 2025	923	–	1%	–	8%	10%	1%	23%	–	8%	Other 4% Undecided 44%