# 44th British Columbia general election
The 44th [British Columbia](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-columbia) general election is a provincial general election scheduled for October 24, 2026, following the dissolution of the 43rd Parliament on September 22, 2026.[1](https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/mlas/government) Premier David Eby called it as a snap election roughly two years into his term, framing the campaign around U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and threats against Canada.[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Election | 44th British Columbia provincial general election |
| Voting day | Saturday, October 24, 2026[1](https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/mlas/government) |
| Dissolution | The 43rd Parliament was dissolved on September 22, 2026[1](https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/mlas/government) |
| Why early | Called by Premier David Eby two years before the scheduled date, citing Trump's trade war and threats to Canadian sovereignty[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae) |
| Governing party at dissolution | BC New Democratic Party, holding a narrow majority of 47 of 93 seats won in 2024[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae) • [3](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf) |
| Opposition status | The BC Conservative caucus was in turmoil, with leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigning and Lorne Doerkson named interim leader[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae) |
## Background: the 2024 election
The preceding election, the 43rd, was held on October 19, 2024, and was the first contested on the 93-district map set by the Electoral Districts Act (2023).[4](https://bc.locallink.ca/election-2026/past-results/) The BC NDP won 47 seats on 944,579 votes (44.87 percent of valid votes), the minimum needed for a majority; the Conservative Party won 44 seats on 911,153 votes (43.28 percent); and the BC Green Party won 2 seats on 173,377 votes (8.24 percent).[3](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf) No seat changed hands in the automatic and judicial recounts in Kelowna Centre, Surrey-[Guildford](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildford), and Prince George-Mackenzie.[4](https://bc.locallink.ca/election-2026/past-results/)
Because the New Democrats held a majority, Eby was not required to call another election until 2028; under the Constitution Act the fixed date would have been October 21, 2028, though the Lieutenant Governor retains the power to dissolve the assembly at any time.[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae) • [5](https://bcballot.ca/guides/what-happens-when-the-writ-drops/)
## The 2026 campaign
Eby announced the election on September 22, 2026, after U.S.-Canada trade talks broke down, arguing that the election offered British Columbians a choice between his government's resistance to U.S. economic pressure and opponents he accused of embracing "MAGA-style politics." He cited a 4 percent fall in the province's exports to the United States against a 16 percent rise in exports to other markets, and pledged to keep American alcohol off provincial shelves until Canada gets what he called a fair deal.[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae)
The election call came amid turmoil in the opposition BC Conservative Party: Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as leader on the Sunday before the call, following a wave of defections and expulsions from her caucus, and Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader.[2](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae) The campaign also overlaps with municipal election campaigns in 160 municipalities across the province, along with every school board, regional district, and the Islands Trust.[6](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/where-do-b-c-parties-stand-on-big-health-care-challenges/)
## References
1. [Government, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia](https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/mlas/government)
2. [British Columbia leader calls snap election as premier tells voters to say 'hell no to Trump', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/631ff2622c5c30f8a3988db89f4bdcae)
3. [Statement of Votes: 2024 Provincial General Election, Elections BC](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)
4. [Past election results, 2020 and 2024, BC LocalLink](https://bc.locallink.ca/election-2026/past-results/)
5. [What happens when the writ drops, BC Ballot](https://bcballot.ca/guides/what-happens-when-the-writ-drops/)
6. [Where do B.C. parties stand on big health care challenges?, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives](https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/where-do-b-c-parties-stand-on-big-health-care-challenges/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Elections and representation › Elections and referendums › National and subnational elections outside the US and UK › Canadian election events*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license