Vancouver 2026 Mayoral Aspirant List Winnows

#VanElxn 2026, #VanPoli Civic Politics, BC Politics, Politics, Vancouver Votes 2026

One month ago, the number of heavyweight pretenders to the throne that is the seat of power in the City of Vancouver, the head honcho so to speak, numbered 8.

Today, the number of serious-minded contenders to become Vancouver’s next Mayor come the evening of October 17th, 2026 has winnowed considerably.

    • Ken Sim. Vancouver’s incumbent Mayor, elected with a record 85,732 votes, favoured by a plurality of 50.9% of those who cast a ballot in 2022, Mr. Sim’s popularity has waned significantly since the days of his first being elected to office. That is, if the internal poll recently conducted by his electoral party, ABC Vancouver, is to be believed. From closing the Renter’s Office at Vancouver City Hall to jettisoning the Fair Wage Programme implemented by the previous Council, to “scandals” respecting his tenure as Chairperson of Vancouver’s Police Board — a post he no longer holds — as well as converting a City Hall meeting room into a personal gym, and for the first three years of his term rarely turning up at Council meetings, and arriving at Council dressed in a T-shirt and sweat pants in the few times he did, any good will Mr. Sim generated in the early part of his term of office has all but evaporated. Mayor Ken Sim will have one heckuva time getting re-elected as Vancouver Mayor come late 2026 — not an impossibility, but a highly improbable outcome for the current Mayor.
    • George Affleck. First elected to office as a Vancouver City Councillor on Saturday, November 19th, 2011 as a candidate with the now moribund but once powerful Non-Partisan Association (NPA), Mr. Affleck won a second term of office on November 15, 2014, before retiring from civic politics in 2018. Mr. Affleck, a centre-right politician, one month ago had high hopes of displacing Ken Sim as the conservative voice at Vancouver City Hall, as Vancouver’s next Mayor, before — in recent days — deciding that Vancouverites were probably not open to electing another centre-right politician as Vancouver Mayor, given the fiasco that Ken Sim’s term in office has turned out to be. Buh-bye, George.
    • John Coupar. The former Chair of the Vancouver Park Board, and in 2018 — at least for a time — the NPA Mayoral candidate, Mr. Coupar was looking to challenge Mr. Affleck for the Mayoral nomination with a reinvigorated Non-Partisan Association, which held office at Vancouver City Hall from 1937 through 1972, and again from 1976 through 2002, and finally from 2005 to 2008. Saner heads prevailed, though, and the ineffable John Coupar decided instead to focus on provincial politics, to hold the NDP government’s feet to the fire.

    • Rebecca Bligh. First elected to office under the banner of the Non-Partisan Association, before leaving the party with her other elected NPA colleagues — save Melissa De Genova — the first sitting Councillor to join the nascent, Ken Sim-head ABC Vancouver municipal party (the two were members of Landmark, a sort of cultish betterment organization) when she was elected for a second time (Mr. Sim dumped Ms. Bligh unceremoniously mid-term this term, which speaks highly of Rebecca Bligh’s integrity, given that she had consistently challenged the Mayor, and other sitting, elected members of his caucus), and recently re-elected to another term as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities), Ms. Bligh has long been one of our favourite politicos (her partner, Laura, is the first person we’ve run across in 50 years who, appropriately, with wit and a high degree of caring, keeps us in line … and boy oh boy, do we need that!), Rebecca Bligh is making a serious bid to become Vancouver’s next Mayor, with fundraising for her upcoming campaign well underway (note to readers: we apologize for the run-on sentence, but it is  part of VanRamblings’ writing stock and trade, as well). Ms. Bligh, then, is the third serious candidate to become Vancouver Mayor in 2026 we’re writing about today. We will write more about Ms. Bligh another day. For now, we wish her well.

    • Kennedy Stewart. A political ghost from Vancouver’s recent past, Dr. Stewart (Mr. Stewart teaches in Simon Fraser University’s School of Public Policy), Kennedy Stewart served an undistinguished term in office as Vancouver Mayor, first elected municipally on October 20, 2018, but handily defeated by Ken Sim in his bid for re-election, on Saturday, October 15, 2022. A lifelong member of the New Democratic Party, Mr. Stewart served as a member of Parliament in Ottawa, with the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada from 2011 through 2018, when he announced his resignation in order that he might run for the Mayor’s office in Vancouver, where he emerged victorious. Sadly, though, Mr. Stewart garnered only 49,593 votes, or 29.48% of the vote, in 2022, losing to novice politico Ken Sim by a whopping 36,139 votes. Nonetheless, up until recently, Mr. Stewart believed that with the support of the provincial New Democratic Party and the unpopularity of incumbent Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, in 2026 he could rise from the ashes, phoenix like, to once again emerge victorious as Vancouver Mayor, on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Although Mr. Stewart is right on the first count — Mr. Sim’s rampant unpopularity — on the second count, Mr. Stewart will find that provincial NDP support for his candidacy will not materialize (our provincial NDP has a preferred candidate for Vancouver Mayor, and it ain’t him). Neither will Mr. Stewart garner the support of the Vancouver & District Labour Council, who prefer the same candidate as B.C.’s New Democrats. Mr. Stewart’s candidacy is over before it’s begun.

    • Pete Fry. Just two months ago, the two term Green Party of Vancouver City Councillor was being urged to put his hat in the ring to become Vancouver’s next Mayor … until it became clear that support from the Vancouver & District Labour Council for his candidacy would not be forthcoming, that another, preferred and very well funded and experienced Mayoral aspirant — who VanRamblings will write about tomorrow — had emerged, making a Pete Fry run for Vancouver Mayor, challenging, with victory a near impossibility. In 2026, Mr. Fry will run for a third term as Councillor, with the support of the VDLC.

    • Colleen Hardwick. In 2018, Ms. Hardwick was elected to Vancouver City Council, coming in a respectable fifth with 47,747 votes, while running with the Non-Partisan Association. By the time 2022 rolled around, Ms. Hardwick had “switched” parties to TEAM (The Electors’ Action Movement) — TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, the Vancouver-based centrist political party that was formed in 1968 and held office for two elections, from 1972 to 1976, co-founded by Ms. Hardwick’s father, UBC Urban Geography professor Dr. Walter Hardwick, the party rekindled for the 2022 Vancouver municipal election. Ms. Hardwick ran for Mayor with TEAM in 2022, coming in a distant third with 16,769 votes, or 9.97% of the vote. Ms. Hardwick also ran in this year’s by-election, securing 17,352 votes, approximately half the votes of the two winning candidates, COPE’s Sean Orr (34,448) and OneCity Vancouver’s Lucy Maloney (33,732). In 2026, it is Colleen Hardwick’s intention to run for Mayor for a second time.  We will write about Ms. Hardwick at length, another day.

Reviewing the above, there are three serious-minded candidates left in the running for the Mayor’s chair in 2026: Ken Sim, Rebecca Bligh and Colleen Hardwick.

However, there is another serious candidate who has come forward and announced his candidacy for Vancouver Mayor, a candidate VanRamblings endorsed two months ago, a candidate who formally announced his candidacy for Mayor of Vancouver on July 3rd, a well schooled candidate with an enviable war chest, with a campaign manager already in place, a candidate VanRamblings believes will be overwhelmingly elected as Vancouver’s next Mayor on Saturday, October 17, 2026.


Ya just gotta vote for a married candidate for Vancouver Mayor who loves dogs (and parks)

VanRamblings will write about this well funded, well organized, energized mystery candidate for Vancouver Mayor tomorrow, who would seem to have the support of the Vancouver & District Labour Council as well as our provincial New Democratic Party, making him the odds on favourite to become Vancouver’s next Mayor in ’26.

VanRamblings Makes Its Triumphant Return, Again

#CdnPoli | Canadian Politics, #VanElxn 2026, #VanPoli Civic Politics, BC Politics, canadian politics, Politics, Vancouver, Vancouver Votes 2026, VanRamblings

After an interregnum of some 284 days since VanRamblings published last, today — Monday, August 18th, 2025 — marks VanRamblings inglorious return.

In the coming days, weeks and months, as per usual, most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, we will publish our thoughts on all things municipal, provincial and federal politics, interspersed with columns on cinema (such as this Friday’s column on film festival season), and on the occasional Saturday, return to our semi-regular feature, Stories of a Life, and on Sundays, Sunday Music, where we will continue writing about our favourite 100 albums of all time.

Most of the next two weeks will be given over to writing about Vancouver’s municipal political scene, this week and part of next focusing on the probable Mayoral aspirants seeking office in order that they might install themselves in the spacious offices and luxurious living quarters located on the third floor at Vancouver City Hall (thank you, Dr. Penny Ballem), a home away from home for the Mayor.

In tomorrow’s column, VanRamblings’ focus will be on who, only a month ago, seemed to be the serious-minded Mayoral aspirants. Much has changed, though, over the past month, and the list of Mayoral aspirants has winnowed considerably, although a few of the usual suspects for Vancouver Mayor remain serious about making a bid for office on Saturday, October 17th, 2026.

A major focus of VanRamblings’ writing beginning next week through until October 12th will be, what for us, is the première arts event of the autumn season, the 44th Vancouver International Film Festival, which this year will run, in a somewhat truncated form, from Thursday, October 2nd through until Sunday, October 12th.

As far as we are able, we’ll attempt to keep the columns short, pithy, informational and full of our somewhat out on the edge opinions, bound to make some folks (usually the ones being written about) unhappy, while enlightening others in what we hope is an entertaining and provocative manner. As far as possible — given our advanced age (we’re 75 years of age now) and our general ill state of health (alas) — we’ll try to stay away from what once was our stock and trade: hyperbole, always fun to write but, perhaps now, a thing of VanRamblings’ ignominious past.

With the exception of Friday, September 5th — when, in the first person, we’ll write about our various health travails — we’ll continue to employ the third person voice on VanRamblings, which we know drives some people crazy, but there it is.

We look forward to your return tomorrow, and in the days, weeks and months hence, as we once again seek to build our loyal, and just plain great, readership — who want to know just what is going on in our municipal, provincial and federal governance, and the who, what and why of the decisions that impact our lives.

#BCPoli | Who Will Eby Appoint to His Cabinet?

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As Premier David Eby prepares to announce his new Cabinet on November 18th, the selection process is particularly dynamic, especially pending judicial recounts in three British Columbia ridings that will take place this upcoming weekend.

With a significant reshuffle required due to retirements, re-election losses, and a pressing need to address evolving provincial issues, David Eby’s appointments will shape the next phase of the B.C. New Democratic Party’s (NDP) governance.

Premier Eby must balance geographic and gender considerations following an election in which a record number of women were elected — but the government lost considerable ground outside of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

The Premier must also find MLAs to replace Cabinet ministers who either retired before the election or were defeated.

Education Minister Rachna Singh; Minister of Water, Land and Resources and Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Nathan Cullen; Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis; Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, Dan Coulter; and Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, Andrew Mercier, lost their re-election bids.

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy; Forests Minister Bruce Ralston; Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin; Transportation Minister Rob Fleming; Minister of State for Child Care, Mitzi Dean; Labour Minister Harry Bains; and Environment Minister George Heyman are the big names to retire at the end of the past term.

Nearly half of the 27 Cabinet members Eby had before the election are not returning to government.


Former NDP Premier Glen Clark says he’s concerned that Premier David Eby will struggle to give rural B.C. a voice because the party won only five seats outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Photo by Jason Payne / PostMedia Group

Glen Clark, NDP Premier from 1996 to 1999, told PostMedia’s Alec Lazenby that he’s concerned that Eby will struggle to give rural B.C. a voice because the party won only five seats outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. All 15 returning ministers are from those two regions.

Clark said at least two or three of the five NDP MLAs outside the major urban centres will need to be given a role in Cabinet. The five are Steve Morissette of Kootenay-Monashee, Harwinder Sandhu of Vernon-Lumby, Brittny Anderson of Kootenay Central, Tamara Davidson of North Coast-Haida Gwaii, and Randene Neill of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.


Former NDP Premier Mike Harcourt expects Premier David Eby’s Cabinet will be much smaller than his last one. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PostMedia Group

Another consideration has to be the reduced size of the NDP majority, says former NDP Premier, Mike Harcourt, giving Eby a smaller number of MLAs to work with.

Mike Harcourt, who was Premier of British Columbia from 1991 to 1996, said it will be important to place the experienced ministers in key portfolios such as finance, health, public safety and the attorney general’s office.

Harcourt cited Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth as a prime example and believes Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey would make a “very capable finance minister.”

Based on political signals and Eby’s policy priorities, here’s a look at some of the most likely and impactful Cabinet appointees.

Key Appointments in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

David Eby’s Cabinet will likely reflect Vancouver’s strong support for the B.C. NDP, where they won 12 out of 13 seats.

A probable first-time appointee is Christine Boyle, who captured a decisive 62% of the vote in Vancouver-Little Mountain. Boyle, with deep ties to the Eby family and significant experience in climate advocacy, is poised to become Minister of Climate Change and the Environment. This would align her environmental background with the B.C. NDP’s efforts to address climate-related challenges.

In Vancouver-Yaletown, retired Vancouver Police Department Inspector Terry Yung secured his seat and is an anticipated addition to the Cabinet as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Yung’s experience in law enforcement is likely to align well with Eby’s agenda on community safety and public order. Veteran MLA Mike Farnworth, who previously held this role, may take over as Minister of Finance, a shift that would leverage his decades of experience in government.

In Vancouver-South Granville, incumbent Brenda Bailey has proven herself as an effective Minister in Eby’s prior government and is likely to retain her Cabinet position, or become the NDP’s new Finance Minister, as Mr. Harcourt suggests.

Health, a demanding and highly scrutinized Ministry, is expected to see a shift, with longtime Health Minister Adrian Dix moving to another post after overseeing the Ministry since 2017. Bowinn Ma, who has significantly bolstered the B.C. NDP’s presence in North Vancouver, is widely anticipated to take over Health, bringing fresh energy to a complex portfolio.

Regional Diversity and Inclusion of Rising Stars

Beyond the immediate Vancouver area, Eby’s Cabinet will reflect strategic regional representation. In the Interior, Harwinder Sandhu, one of the five BC NDP MLAs to be elected outside the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast, is almost guaranteed a Cabinet role. Her appointment would emphasize the BC NDP’s commitment to rural regions, showcasing representation in government.

Of course, as Glen Clark suggests, consideration must also be given to Steve Morissette (Kootenay-Monashee); two-term MLA for Kootenay Central, Brittny Anderson, who we think may have an inside track to becoming a junior Minister, or Minister of State; newly-elected B.C. NDP MLA, Tamara Davidson, who represents the riding of North Coast-Haida Gwaii; not to mention, retired, high profile broadcaster Randene Neill (Powell River-Sunshine Coast), who we think is a lock for an important portfolio in the first full-term of a David Eby government.

Burnaby, a steadfast NDP stronghold, will likely see several (re)appointments.

Anne Kang, re-elected in Burnaby Centre, could remain as Minister of Municipal Affairs. In Burnaby North, Janet Routledge has a chance to join the Cabinet, while Paul Choi, newly-elected in Burnaby South-Metrotown, could also be considered as Premier Eby aims to add fresh perspectives.

In Delta North, Ravi Kahlon will almost certainly continue as Housing Minister, an area of critical focus for the Eby government given the housing crisis across British Columbia. Housing remains a top issue for Eby, who himself made housing reforms a central part of his platform. A stable and experienced presence like Kahlon will be crucial to advancing these policies, especially in urban centres.

Focusing on Surrey and the Broader Metro Vancouver Region

Surrey, a key battleground in the recent election, remains strategically important to Premier David Eby, especially given the loss of some NDP seats there.

Should Garry Begg retain his seat following the judicial recount in Surrey-Guildford this weekend, he is expected to be a top pick for Cabinet to strengthen representation in this fast growing city. Additionally, newly-elected MLAs Amna Shah in Surrey City Centre and Jessie Sunner in Surrey Newton are strong contenders for Cabinet appointments. Eby’s attention to Surrey signals an understanding of the city’s growing political and economic influence in the province.

Reappointments and Strategic Shifts on Vancouver Island

On Vancouver Island, Grace Lore, who held the Minister of Children and Family Development portfolio, is highly likely to be reappointed given her success in Victoria-Beacon Hill and experience in child welfare issues. Lana Popham, a veteran minister, is also expected to retain a Cabinet position, either continuing in her tourism and cultural portfolio or perhaps taking on a new challenge.

Sheila Malcolmson, who has effectively led the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, is another probable reappointment following her victory in Nanaimo-Gabriola Island. Jodie Osborne, in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding, will likely be reappointed to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, continuing her work on sustainable energy initiatives in British Columbia.

Gender Parity and Representation in Eby’s New Cabinet

With 31 out of 47 elected B.C. NDP members being women, there is a strong case for gender parity within the new Cabinet — with the possibility that two-thirds of the members of his new Cabinet will be women, reflecting their strength within the B.C. NDP caucus — a principle Eby has consistently championed. If the projected appointments proceed, Eby’s Cabinet will reflect a representative cross-section of the province, with an emphasis on female leaders in key ministries.

This commitment to gender parity aligns with Eby’s broader goal of promoting inclusivity within his government, thereby setting a standard for future Cabinets.

Notable Exclusions and Potential Surprises

While Vancouver-based MLAs dominate many of the Cabinet roles, some veterans may be left out. Spencer Chandra Herbert, who has represented Vancouver’s West End since 2009, and veteran B.C. NDP MLA Mable Elmore, representing Vancouver-Kensington, may not secure Cabinet spots due to the high concentration of Vancouver representatives. These omissions may underscore the difficult balancing act Eby faces as he strives to achieve both gender and regional representation.

Langford-Highlands’ Ravi Parmar, a relatively newcomer into the MLA ranks, elected from John Horgan’s former riding, might also be considered for Cabinet. Parmar’s inclusion would help strengthen Vancouver Island’s representation and honour Horgan’s legacy, which remains influential within the BC NDP.

A Cabinet for a New Political Era

In crafting his new Cabinet, Premier Eby aims to assemble a team that can tackle B.C.’s most pressing issues, from housing and health care to environmental sustainability and public safety. The mix of experienced veterans like Farnworth and Popham with rising stars such as Boyle and Ma reflects Eby’s commitment to balancing continuity with innovation.

The emphasis on regional and gender representation, coupled with a focus on critical ministries, positions this Cabinet to address the complexities of governing a diverse province. Moreover, by incorporating leaders from various backgrounds — public safety, municipal governance, environmental activism — Premier Eby’s Cabinet can approach these issues from fresh perspectives, creating policy solutions his government aims to resonate with a broad swath British Columbians.

#BCPoli | Good-bye John Rustad We Hardly Knew Ya

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Buh-bye, so long, adios: John Rustad, “interim leader” of the Conservative Party of British Columbia

One year from today John Rustad will no longer lead the B.C. Conservative Party.

How to explain VanRamblings’ late 2025 B.C. Conservative leadership projection?

  • B.C. Conservative Party infighting. In his interview with This is Vancolour’s Mo Amir, former BC NDP Premier Glen Clark referred to 20 of the newly-elected B.C. Conservative Party MLAs as “whack jobs” — this adjudication arising from a series of racist, misogynist, homophobic QAnon conspiracy theorist comments made by these, now, sitting B.C. Conservative Party members of the B.C. Legislature.

    From what VanRamblings’ sources tell us, these 20 newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLAs are far from happy with their leader, John Rustad, for having roundly denounced several of their number during the course of the recent provincial election campaign. VanRamblings is told there is a movement afoot to remove Rustad as leader, in favour of a member of the QAnon conspiracy theorist contingent who more rightly align with their “the whole system is rigged and oughta be brought down” far right, People’s Party of Canada, anti-vaxx, Freedom Convoy-loving “philosophy”.

Meanwhile, Premier Eby has drawn what he calls a “bright line”, stating that his NDP government will refuse to work with newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLAs who have expressed “offensive” views on racial and other matters.

Vaughn Palmer, in The Vancouver Sun, has called the …

 “Bright-line test a proverbial line in the sand. It establishes a clearcut, easily recognizable boundary between the right and the wrong, the good and the bad, the pure and the tainted.”

Eby singled out Brent Chapman, newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLA for Surrey South, and author of some deeply offensive social media posts in past years.

“Brent Chapman (is) a hateful man promoting hate and racism in our province,” Eby told host Vijay Saini of CJCN radio last week. “We have a very bright line around that and it is a non-starter for us. We need to fight hate and racism every day. So there are definitely restrictions on our willingness to work with the Conservative party.”

The BC NDP leader has suggested that B.C. Democrats are preparing a list of Conservatives whose utterances have consigned them to the dark side of the line.

“I’ve seen them speaking out with concern on issues that I share concern about — open racism from Conservative candidates, open homophobia, anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-woman sentiment — and those are bright lines. That is non-negotiable for us.”

Premier Eby has created a ‘no win’ situation for B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad: defend his MLAs who have expressed intolerant and hateful views, or denounce them. Smart, divisive NDP politics, set to create much trouble for Rustad.

Elenore Sturko celebrating her B.C. United Party by-election win in 2022, with Kevin Falcon.

  • Elenore Sturko. VanRamblings has been told by our B.C. Conservative Party sources that former B.C. United MLA for Surrey South, now the newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLA representing the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale has formed an exploratory committee to challenge John Rustad for leadership of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Elenore Sturko: thy name is ambition at all costs, the person in which such picayune considerations such as loyalty will never be vested. Just ask former B.C. United Party leader Kevin Falcon; he’s got a story or two to tell ya.

And, finally, why John Rustad won’t be the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, and His Majesty’s loyal Opposition, twelve months from now.

The venerable and exclusive Vancouver Club, on West Hastings in Vancouver.

  • Powers that be who rule our province. The same group of folks who just weeks ago — billionaire developers, and their ilk — convinced, under threat, B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon to fold his and his B.C. United tent in favour of supporting John Rustad’s far right B.C. Conservative Party — never for a moment wanting to see the conspiracy theory amenable Rustad continue on as B.C. Conservative Party leader should he “lose” the election — even as you read this, are meeting behind closed doors deep within the inner sanctum of The Vancouver Club, developing plans to oust John Rustad as B.C. Conservative Party leader — as they did with then B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Wilson, in favour of their hand-picked choice and oh-so-amenable, Gordon Campbell — to be replaced by Ms. Sturko, or Brad West or another potential B.C. Conservative Party leader, who would be acquiescent to their entreaties, a leader not wedded to conspiracy theories, someone more acceptable to the general populace.

So there you have it.

In the face of the chaos that will be wrought in the United States with the (re) election of Donald Trump as President, in British Columbia some degree of sanity will prevail, with the Nuremberg 2.0-compliant John Rustad set to be removed as B.C. Conservative Party leader, in favour of someone more balanced and palatable to a broad swath of the British Columbia electorate. With David Eby at the helm of a progressive British Columbia New Democratic Party, we can look forward to enjoying a government committed to empowering women, empowering members of our Indigenous community, and building the economy, an oasis of political sanity in this crazy old world of ours where stability, in British Columbia, is our friend.