Next Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

Background and Context of the Leadership Vacancy

The leadership vacancy arose directly from the resignation of Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who had been announced as the party's new leader only months earlier on May 30, 2026. Findlay's resignation on September 20, 2026, created immediate uncertainty within the party, which was already preparing for a by election in Abbotsford Mission where she was a candidate. That by election, scheduled for September 26, was triggered by the resignation of MLA Reann Gasper on August 22 but was subsequently cancelled due to the calling of the general election. The party had experienced significant internal turmoil in the preceding months, including the departure of several MLAs to other parties like CentreBC, which was founded in April 2025. This period of instability made the swift appointment of a new leader a critical priority for the Conservative board as they faced a sudden provincial campaign.

Findlay's brief tenure followed that of Trevor Halford, and her departure left the party without a permanent leader at a crucial juncture. The board of directors moved quickly to establish interim leadership, selecting Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson for the role on September 21. Doerkson, first elected in 2020, was a relatively low profile figure provincially prior to his appointment. His immediate task was to unify a caucus that had seen 16 MLAs leave or be ousted in recent months and to mount a credible campaign against Premier David Eby's NDP. The party's rapid polling recovery after Doerkson's appointment shifted the political calculus and led the board to propose an unconventional path to permanent leadership tied directly to electoral success.

The Interim Leadership and Conditional Permanent Offer

Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader by the party's board of directors on September 21, 2026, one day after Findlay's resignation. In a press conference on September 22, Doerkson announced he was running for premier and stated he would continue to serve as premier if the Conservatives won the mandate. The board of directors issued a statement on September 23 declaring that if Doerkson became premier following the October 24 general election, they would make him the permanent leader of the party. This statement acknowledged that the board itself does not possess the authority to alter the party's constitution, which requires a membership vote to select a permanent leader. The board's conditional offer immediately raised legal and procedural questions, which were highlighted by NDP MLA and Attorney General Niki Sharma's public comments questioning the legality of the steps.

The central issue is the conflict between the board's stated intention and the democratic requirements embedded in the party's own governing documents. This situation created a unique pre election dynamic where Doerkson campaigned simultaneously for the premiership and for a de facto ratification of his party leadership, despite the lack of a formal membership vote. The party's official website subsequently began featuring Doerkson prominently as Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, further cementing his public facing role regardless of the constitutional technicalities. Sharma suggested the board's proposed actions could be subject to a court challenge, adding a layer of legal risk to the party's post election planning.

Timeline of Key Events in 2026

Kerry Lynne Findlay was announced as the winner of the Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election on May 30, 2026. She resigned as party leader on September 20, 2026. Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader by the party's board of directors on September 21, 2026. The 2026 British Columbia general election was called on September 22, 2026, which cancelled a planned by election in Abbotsford Mission. The party's board of directors released a statement on September 23 saying it would make Doerkson permanent leader if he became premier. Attorney General Niki Sharma questioned the legality of this plan.

• May 30: The 2026 Conservative Party leadership election occurs, with Kerry Lynne Findlay announced as the winner.
• August 22: Reann Gasper announces her resignation as MLA for Abbotsford Mission.
• August 29: A by election is called for Abbotsford Mission. Findlay announces her candidacy.
• September 18: Peter Milobar becomes leader of CentreBC.
• September 20: Findlay announces her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party.
• September 21: Lorne Doerkson is named interim leader by the party's board of directors.
• September 22: The 2026 British Columbia general election is called. Doerkson announces he is running for premier.
• September 23: The party board states it will make Doerkson permanent leader if he becomes premier.
• October 24: The 2026 British Columbia general election occurs.

This sequence highlights how the planned leadership transition was completely overtaken by the snap election call. The cancellation of the Abbotsford Mission by election eliminated one immediate electoral test for Findlay's successor, while the general election presented a much larger and more consequential challenge. The board's September 23 statement effectively placed the formal leadership election process on hold, subordinating it to the outcome of the provincial vote. The overlapping events of late September created a crisis atmosphere that demanded rapid decisions from the party's governing body.

Potential Candidates and Political scene

As of the calling of the general election, only one individual had been publicly discussed as a potential candidate in a future leadership contest, aside from the interim leader. Aaron Gunn, the Member of Parliament for North Island Powell River since 2025, has been named in media reports as a potential candidate. Gunn's federal profile and alignment with certain conservative factions make him a figure of interest, though his candidacy would be contingent on the party holding a contested race. The political scene surrounding the party was fragmented, with new challenger parties emerging and absorbing former Conservative MLAs, which complicates the pool of potential future candidates.

CentreBC, founded in April 2025 by former BC United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick, experienced its own leadership volatility. Elenore Sturko became its leader on September 22, 2026, after several changes. Sturko, a former RCMP staff sergeant and MLA, had been removed from the Conservative caucus in September 2025 and joined CentreBC on September 18. The OneBC party was formed in 2025 by former Conservative MLAs Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong, with Brodie serving as its interim leader. This splintering on the right complicated the Conservative Party's efforts to present a united front and potentially influences the pool of future leadership candidates, as some figures have now aligned with rival parties. The instability across right leaning parties shows the competitive environment for leadership talent.

The 2026 General Election and Its Impact on Leadership

The snap election called for October 24, 2026, fundamentally altered the context for the leadership election. Premier David Eby called the election two years early, citing a need for a strong mandate to deal with international trade issues. Initially seen as opportunistic given Conservative disarray, the campaign saw the Conservatives, under Doerkson, recover in the polls to become competitive. Polling from the Angus Reid Institute in mid October showed the Conservatives holding a narrow, statistically tied lead over the NDP, with 46 per cent support among decided and leaning voters compared to 43 per cent for the NDP. Conservative voters were also more certain of their choice, with 73 per cent very certain compared to 54 per cent of NDP voters, indicating stronger base mobilization.

Doerkson's campaign focused on jobs, pledging to supercharge the economy, freeze income taxes, reduce red tape, and fully fund frontline health care. He also promised to repeal the provincial legislation implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPA) and remove the SOGI 123 school resource. His campaign was not without controversy, as he ousted two candidates for offensive remarks, and the party faced criticism over social media posts by campaign director Katy Merrifield. The election result will directly determine the validity of the board's conditional offer to Doerkson. A Conservative victory would trigger the board's pledge, while a loss would likely necessitate a formal leadership contest under the party's constitution, making the provincial campaign a definitive leadership test.

Constitutional and Legal Questions

The party board's September 23 statement created a significant constitutional ambiguity. The board explicitly acknowledged it lacks the authority to unilaterally change the party's constitution, which requires a membership vote to select a permanent leader. This creates a potential scenario where the board attempts to install Doerkson as permanent leader following an electoral victory, but without having held the required vote. Attorney General Niki Sharma's comments highlight that such an action could be challenged in court by party members insisting on their democratic rights under the constitution, adding a layer of legal uncertainty to the party's internal process.

The situation presents a procedural dilemma for the party. If the Conservatives form government, Doerkson would become premier while potentially still holding only interim party leadership status. This could undermine his authority within caucus and the party apparatus. Conversely, if the board attempts to bypass the constitution, it risks internal revolt and legal action. The party's bylaws, which candidate Michael Davis noted he wrote for CentreBC, are typically designed to prevent such scenarios, emphasizing the unusual nature of the board's declaration. The resolution of this issue will set an important precedent for how British Columbia's political parties manage leadership transitions in the midst of government formation and could influence future party governance.

Comparison of Party Standings and Leadership Stability

The leadership uncertainty within the BC Conservatives contrasts with the relative stability of other major parties during the 2026 campaign, though other right of centre parties also experienced flux. The BC NDP was led by Premier David Eby, who had been in power since 2022. The BC Greens were led by Emily Lowan. The newer parties, CentreBC and OneBC, both experienced recent leadership changes, mirroring the instability on the political right. This table illustrates the direct correlation between leadership stability and electoral support, with the two leading parties having the most settled leadership.

CentreBC had candidates in only 35 out of 93 ridings and recent polls put its support at three per cent. The Conservative Party of British Columbia saw its support soar in the polls following the snap election call despite having an interim leader. The party's board of directors said it would make interim leader Lorne Doerkson the permanent leader if he becomes premier following the general election. The board acknowledged it does not have the authority to make the required change to the party's constitution to allow for this.

Future Scenarios and Implications

The path forward for the Conservative Party leadership is entirely contingent on the results of the October 24 general election. Should the Conservatives win a majority or plurality and Lorne Doerkson become premier, the party board will face immediate pressure to follow through on its pledge. This would likely involve calling a special convention or leadership vote to formally ratify Doerkson's position, albeit under conditions where the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Failure to do so could result in the legal challenge foreshadowed by Niki Sharma and internal discord. A Conservative victory would also test Doerkson's ability to govern both the province and a caucus that recently experienced significant factionalism, requiring skilled management to maintain unity.

If the Conservatives fail to form government, a formal leadership election will almost certainly be convened in the months following the general election. In this scenario, Doerkson would likely be a candidate, as would other figures like MP Aaron Gunn. The contest would be shaped by a post election analysis of what prevented a Conservative victory, potentially leading to debates over policy direction, candidate management, and coalition building with other right leaning parties. The party's constitution would resume its normal function, and the board's conditional offer would become moot. The outcome will determine not only the party's leader but also the future cohesion of British Columbia's political right and its ability to present a stable alternative to the governing NDP, making the next leadership contest a highly consequential event for the province's political direction.

Questions about Next Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election

Who is the current leader of the BC Conservative Party?

As of the 2026 general election campaign, Lorne Doerkson is the interim leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. He was appointed by the party's board of directors on September 21, 2026, following the resignation of Kerry Lynne Findlay. The board has stated that if Doerkson becomes premier following the October 24 election, they will make him the permanent leader, though this requires a constitutional change they cannot enact unilaterally. Doerkson is the MLA for Cariboo Chilcotin, first elected in 2020.

When is the next BC Conservative leadership election?

The date for the next formal leadership election is undetermined as of October 2026. The party was required to hold one after Kerry Lynne Findlay's resignation on September 20, 2026. However, the calling of a snap provincial election the next day disrupted the process. The party's board has linked the timing of a permanent leadership decision to the outcome of the general election, proposing to make interim leader Lorne Doerkson permanent if he becomes premier. If the Conservatives do not form government, a membership vote will likely be scheduled in the subsequent months.

What are the legal issues with the board's plan for the leader?

The party's board of directors has stated it will make interim leader Lorne Doerkson permanent leader if he becomes premier, but the board itself acknowledges it lacks the authority to make the required constitutional change. BC NDP Attorney General Niki Sharma has publicly questioned the legality of this plan, stating such steps could be challenged in court. The party's constitution requires a vote of the membership to select a permanent leader, which the board cannot override. This creates a potential conflict between the board's stated intention and the party's democratic rules.

Who are the potential candidates in the next leadership race?

Two potential candidates are identified for a future leadership contest. Lorne Doerkson, the incumbent interim leader and MLA for Cariboo Chilcotin since 2020, is the most prominent figure. Aaron Gunn, the Member of Parliament for North Island Powell River since 2025, is also named as a potential candidate. The outcome of the general election will likely determine whether a contested race becomes necessary. Other individuals may emerge depending on the political circumstances following the election.

How did the snap election affect the leadership contest?

The calling of the snap general election on September 22, 2026, immediately after the leadership vacancy, suspended the normal leadership process. It forced the party to appoint an interim leader quickly, selecting Lorne Doerkson on September 21. The election campaign itself became a public leadership test for Doerkson, with his performance and the party's polling influencing internal discussions about his future. The board's subsequent conditional plan to make him permanent leader if he becomes premier was a direct response to the election timeline.

What happens if the BC Conservatives win the general election?

If the BC Conservatives win the October 24 general election and Lorne Doerkson becomes premier, the party's board of directors has pledged to make him the permanent leader. This would likely involve organizing a leadership ratification vote or convention, though the board's statement suggests they may attempt to bypass a full membership vote. Such a move could lead to legal challenges from party members insisting on their constitutional rights. Doerkson would then lead both the provincial government and the party, facing the task of uniting a caucus with a recent history of internal divisions.

Sources and further reading

• Next Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election (Wikipedia)
• Home | Conservative Party of British Columbia (conservativebc.ca)
• B.C. election 2026: What to know about the parties, leaders ... (theglobeandmail.com)
• B.C. Election 2026: BC Conservatives lead slightly as two- ... (angusreid.org)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.