Tuesday April 8, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Victoria NDP incumbent Laurel Collins has received the endorsement of the former local Conservative candidate.
“In a show of cross-partisanship, former Victoria Conservative Party candidate Hannah Hodson has endorsed New Democrat incumbent Laurel Collins in the 2025 federal election,” the NDP stated in a news release today.
Hodson, who ran against Collins in the 2021 race for Victoria, cited Collins’ unwavering commitment to her community, her values, and effectiveness as a member of parliament as key reasons for her endorsement.
Hodson, the first openly transgender candidate to run for the federal Conservatives, resigned from the party in 2023 over its stance on gender-affirming care. She has since become a vocal critic of what she describes as “politically motivated attacks on minorities” within conservative circles.
“Laurel Collins has consistently fought for bold climate action, affordable housing, and for more services especially for the most vulnerable in her community,” said Hodson.
“Laurel’s unwavering advocacy for marginalized communities stands in stark contrast to the Conservative Party’s regressive policies and embrace of candidates who deny historical truths,” said Hodson, referencing recent calls for Poilievre to drop North Island-Powell River candidate Aaron Gunn.
Collins states in today’s news release that she welcomes the endorsement from Hodson.
Collins running for a 3rd term:
Collins was first elected in 2019 (with 33.2% of the vote) and re-elected in 2021 (43.9% of the vote).
The Victoria federal riding has been held by the NDP since 2006: Denise Savoie (three terms during 2006-2012); Murray Rankin (two terms during 2012-2019), and Laurel Collins (2019 to present).
As the incumbent, Collins is seeking re-election in the April 28 federal election to serve a third term as the MP for Victoria.
Prior to being the MP Collins was a sociology instructor at the University of Victoria and served on Victoria City Council. She is married and the mother of two young daughters.
Stiff competition:
The 2025 Victoria federal race is likely to be hard-fought.
The Liberals seem to want ‘their seat’ back. Liberal Leader Mark Carney was in town on April 6 and 7; he promoted Will Greaves — an associate professor at the University of Victoria doing research around climate change, security, and Arctic politics — as the Liberal candidate for Victoria along with other Liberal candidates as the party tries to gain ground against the NDP.
Former Liberal MP for Victoria and former Environment Minister David Anderson, was at Carney’s rally on Sunday night along with former Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna. Carney’s mother and sister live in Victoria.
But Vancouver Island is a progressive place. The NDP have held six of the seven federal seats on Vancouver Island since 2011 with a strong ground game that reflects their finger on the pulse of helping families and working people.
The Greens through their leader (now co-leader) Elizabeth May have held the seventh seat since 2011, with May’s emphasis on environmental protection being strong in the Green platform.
Victoria candidates:
- Laurel Collins (NDP – incumbent)
- Michael Doherty (Green)
- Steve Filipovic, Independent
- Cody Fraser, Parti Rhinocéros Party
- Will Greaves (Liberal)
- David Mohr (PPC)
- Mary Moreau, Christian Heritage Party of Canada
- Angus Ross (Conservative)
===== RELATED:
- Victoria NDP incumbent Laurel Collins on the 2025 re-election campaign trail (April 2, 2025)
- Second federal campaign visit by NDP Leader on south Vancouver Island (March 31, 2025)
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