BC PULSE – Half say they have no party to gladly support if election called
If they had to choose, voters give NDP four point lead in vote intent, 41% to 37% over BC Conservatives
By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE
September 17, 2026 – Premier David Eby kicked election speculation into overdrive this week when he stated that his party needed to be “election ready”. But would his constituents be ready?
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds half (51%) of British Columbians saying they “feel like a political orphan” without a party to enthusiastically throw their support behind. That sentiment is shared by two-in-five (41%) past BC NDP voters and a majority of those who voted for the BC Conservatives (55%).
However, British Columbians are more split when it comes to whether another political party on the scene “is much needed” (42%) or “would create more uncertainty” (40%). Notably, more than two-in-five (46%) past BC NDP voters and 37 per cent of past BC Conservative voters believe there is a need for another political party to consider.
Approval of Premier Eby may have recovered from a nadir seen a quarter ago (31% to 41%), but more believe the BC NDP are doing a poor job (47%) running the province than a good one (39%). More believe the BC NDP are doing a poor job (47%) running the province than a good one (39%). The growing budgetary deficit perhaps looms large over assessments.
But despite the province’s increasing debt, those who are pessimistic about the province’s future (53%) outnumber those who are optimistic (47%) only by a hair.
These data take on greater import as Eby has begun to make overtures about the possibility of an early election, perhaps to take advantage of the opposition BC Conservatives, who have been beset by internal party strife since the 2024 contest. Only a handful (16%) believe it would be “best possible outcome” if the BC NDP were to win a majority government whenever the next election comes. There are a sizable number (29%) who believe instead that it’s better than the alternatives. Two-in-five (37%) describe a potential new BC NDP majority as a “bad outcome” (14%) or the “worst possible outcome” (23%).
More Key Findings:
- Two-in-five (39%) 2024 BC Conservative voters say leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay should resign. Three-in-ten (31%) want her to stay on. A similar number (29%) aren’t sure either way.
- Half (52%) of British Columbians describe the BC Conservatives as “too far to the right politically”. That includes one-in-five (19%) past BC Conservative voters and a majority (58%) of those who voted for neither the BC NDP or the BC Conservatives in the previous election.
- Half (50%) in the province believe it’s time for a change in government, one-third (34%) disagree. Among those who disagree, there is a near even split between believing it’s not time for a change because they support the BC NDP (42%) and those who say they don’t want the BC Conservatives to form government (46%).
ArmchairMayor.ca 
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