BC Election 2026: From Election Results to Government Priorities

Following the October 24 provincial election, which saw the Conservatives secure a majority government, British Columbians are reflecting on what shaped the result and what they expect from their new government.

According to our latest post-election survey, the NDP’s decision to call an early election is a leading explanation for its defeat. While dissatisfaction with the outgoing government appears to have influenced perceptions of the outcome, affordability and health care are now at the forefront of residents’ priorities.

• 36% of BC residents cite the early election call (21%) or its perceived political motivation (15%) as the main reason for the NDP’s defeat.

• 66% of voters made their voting decision before or at the beginning of the campaign.

• 17% of BC residents report not voting in the election, including 23% of those aged 18 to 34.

• 44% want the new Conservative government to prioritize reducing the cost of living, followed by improving health care access (32%).

The decision to call an election two years ahead of schedule appears to have played an important role in how British Columbians interpret the outcome. Notably, NDP voters were more likely than Conservative voters to identify the early election call itself as the main reason for the party’s defeat (35% versus 13%).

Perceptions of the Conservative victory point to a broader desire for change. When asked why the Conservatives won, residents most frequently cited dissatisfaction with the early election (21%), a desire to remove the NDP government (18%), and confidence in the Conservatives’ ability to manage the economy and cost of living (17%). By comparison, 5% identified Lorne Doerkson’s leadership during the campaign as the primary reason.

Although our final pre-election poll showed the Conservatives gaining ground in the campaign’s closing days, the post-election results suggest that many voters had already settled on their preferred party. Among those who made their decisions later, 15% chose during the final week, while 7% decided around the leaders’ debates.

The survey also sheds light on electoral participation. Among residents who reported not voting, feeling insufficiently informed and competing work or family commitments were the most frequently cited reasons (18% each), followed by a lack of interest in politics or the election (13%). These findings point to a combination of practical and engagement-related barriers, although the smaller sample of non-voters warrants caution.

Reducing the cost of living emerges as a shared priority across party lines, with similar levels of concern among Conservative (41%), NDP (47%), and Green (44%) voters. Beyond affordability, however, expectations differ considerably.

Conservative voters place greater emphasis on controlling government spending (35% versus 13% among NDP voters) and reducing taxes (27% versus 9%). NDP voters, meanwhile, are more likely to prioritize housing affordability (28% versus 13%) and environmental protection (19% versus 3%).

Generational differences add another dimension. Younger residents aged 18 to 34 are more likely to prioritize housing affordability (28%), while those aged 55 and older place greater emphasis on improving health care access (42%) and controlling government spending (31%).

These differences suggest that while British Columbians share concerns about everyday affordability, their expectations for how the new government should address the province’s challenges vary considerably. Meeting those expectations will involve navigating priorities that do not always align across demographic and political groups.

Download our full report to explore more findings on voting behaviour, perceptions of the election results, and priorities for the new government.

This online survey was conducted from October 30 to November 2, 2026, among 1,003 British Columbia residents aged 18 or older, randomly recruited through Leger’s LEO online panel. Results were weighted according to age, gender, region and education to ensure a representative sample of the population of British Columbia. 

A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,003 respondents would have a margin of error of no greater than ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.