Friday October 11, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
BC ELECTION CAMPAIGN DAY 21 of 28
BC Election 2024 news coverage by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Your 28-day voter’s guide for BC Election 2024
BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau could win the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding on October 19.
That’s according to a new Mainstreet Research poll that shows Furstenau leading with 36%, ahead of BC NDP candidate Grace Lore at 28%, BC Conservative candidate Tim Thielmann at 19%, and 17% of respondents undecided.
“I’ve always had confidence Sonia would be successful,” said BC Green Party Co-Chair Adam Olsen. “She’s proven the critics wrong time and again, and this poll shows that Victoria-Beacon Hill recognizes what we already know, that we absolutely need Sonia’s thoughtful and unwavering voice in the Legislature.”
Back on February 1 when Furstenau announced she’d be relocating from the Cowichan Valley to run in Victoria-Beacon it seemed to many like a long shot. But after her effective debate performance on Tuesday night (October 8 televised BC leaders debate) she has caught the eye of more voters.
BC NDP has flip-flopped:
“The BC NDP has shown how quickly they are willing to flip-flop on important issues like climate change and involuntary treatment. The past four years of a BC NDP majority government have shown that they are unwilling to address poverty, inequality and affordability,” says Olsen.
He says the BC Greens have been “steadfastly consistent” on these critical issues, informed by evidence.
“We are on the verge of electing the biggest BC Green caucus in history, seeing other signs of momentum in all of our ridings in the capital region, as well as several others across the province. Our team is working hard to get them all across the finish line. I am hopeful that we will be electing a stronger BC Green Caucus to push for real tangible change in the next four years,” said Olsen in a news release today.
Contenders:
BC NDP candidate Grace Lore will still have strong loyal support in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding. It’s Carole James’ old seat, going back to when James was NDP leader for the 2009 election; James eventually became deputy premier under Premier John Horgan in 2017 to 2020. Lore has good resonance with progressive voters, and this year she has carried a heavy cabinet portfolio as Minister of Children and Family Develpment.
BC Conservative candidate Tim Thielmann told Island Social Trends this week that he is hearing about people switching their vote from BC NDP to BC Conservative, having become disappointed with the NDP government on a range of things.
All three candidates – Lore, Furstenau and Thielmann participated in a few all candidates meetings across the riding over the past three weeks.
There is one more week of campaigning to go, with the election on October 19.
Momentum:
For weeks now Furstenau has been highlighting the ridings where she thinks the Greens will win. That could in be part be internal party support for candidates to give each riding in turn a bit of a boost.
The BC Greens have been gaining ground, with multiple polls showing a provincial bump. Pollara reporting their provincial vote intent now at 14%, signaling growing momentum for the party in BC.
This Mainstreet Research poll was conducted between October 9 and 10, and surveyed 240 respondents. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 6.3% at the 95% confidence level. Polling details can be found here.
===== RELATED:
- Voting & governance in BC: two-party system evolving to three-party framework (October 6, 2024)
- BC Greens push for well-being framework in Election 2024 (October 1, 2024)
- Heavy-hitters Lore & Furstenau in Victoria-Beacon Hill (September 23, 2024)
- BC Greens campaign kickoff in Victoria Sept 21 (September 21, 2024)
- Early push: Elections BC says people can start voting today (September 21, 2024)
- Furstenau takes BC Green fight to downtown Victoria (February 1, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: BC ELECTION 2024 NEWS | POLITICS
- ELECTION CALENDAR: 28-DAY BC ELECTION CAMPAIGN ITINERARY CALENDAR