The NDP candidate may have changed, but support for the party in the Powell River-Sunshine Coast riding remained nearly the same.
Randene Neill, who will represent the riding in the BC Legislature, won with 14,471 votes (49.62 per cent), according to a final count from Elections BC on October 28. Her predecessor, Nicholas Simons, who won the riding in five consecutive elections, received a higher percentage of votes in 2020 (50.88), but fewer votes (12,701). More votes were cast in 2024, with 29,165 ballots counted, compared to 2020, when 24,961 people in the riding voted.
The biggest shift came in second and third place. The BC Green Party were runners-up in 2020 with 8,104 votes (32.47 per cent). Chris Hergesheimer brought in 3,929 votes (13.47 per cent) for the Greens in 2024, a sharp decline in support.
The non-participation by BC United, which received 4,156 votes (16.65 per cent) here in 2020 under the name BC Liberals, left Conservative Party of BC’s Chris Moore and Independent candidate Greg Reid as other options for voters (only three candidates were on the ballot in 2020).
Moore benefitted from a surge in Conservative popularity province-wide and collected 10,409 votes (35.69 percent). Reid received 356 votes (1.22 per cent).
With results confirmed, what’s next? Will the premier reward the riding for its support over the last six elections by giving Neill a cabinet post? Simons was given that opportunity only briefly.
What promises made by the NDP during the campaign will benefit our riding? When will everyone have a doctor? When is more affordable housing coming, and who qualifies? Can we expect to pay less at the pump?
Time will tell.
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