Saturday March 28, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
BC Conservative leadership contestant Darrell Jones is stepping out of the race and placing his support behind Caroline Elliott’s campaign.
The news was announced in social media today, March 28.
This now leaves six contestants in the race: Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, Warren Hamm, and Peter Milobar.
The only sitting MLA in the bunch is Peter Milobar, who is the Official Opposition Finance Critic.
All the contestants are based on the Vancouver mainland; none are from Vancouver Island.
Timeline:
Remaining contestants must pay $40,000 by April 1, then another $60,000 on or before April 18, to remain in the race.
BC Conservative Party members who are registered by April 18 may vote for the new leader starting May 9 (with a weighted electoral district process), with a final announcement on May 30 (the winner must receive more than 50% of the vote, as there will be candidate eliminations in every round of voting).
Jones makes it official:
“British Columbia needs to get back on track. That means focusing on what matters: growing our economy, supporting small businesses, and creating opportunity for the next generation. To do that, we need to come together to defeat the NDP. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Caroline Elliott,” said Jones in social media today.
BC Conservatives (formerly BC United and before that BC Liberals) are the party of business and free enterprise.
In a social media post today, Elliott says it’s an honour to have endorsement from Jones, emphasizing his 48 years of business experience including 13 years as President of Pattison Food Group, one of BC’s largest privately held companies.
Black appealing to Jones supporters:
Jones may have discovered that politics is more complex than business.
Elliott appears happy to have endorsement from Jones, but Iain Black posted in social media today that he’s happy to receive support from now-former Jones campaign supporters.
===== RELATED:
- BC Conservative leadership race now down to seven contestants (March 19, 2026)
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