In 2026, the Conservative Party of British Columbia held a leadership election to choose a permanent leader to replace Trevor Halford, who became leader on an interim basis following the resignation of John Rustad. Rustad announced his resignation after a caucus revolt and internal party disputes on December 4, 2025. The election was won by former Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay by a narrow margin over Caroline Elliott, winning 51% of the vote.

Background Rustad, who was acclaimed leader in 2023, led his party into the 2024 British Columbia general election as the principal opposition party following BC United's decision to suspend its campaign and endorse Rustad's party. Preceding this, several BC United MLAs had defected to the Conservatives as opinion polls showed the party, which had no representation in the Legislative Assembly in decades, gaining momentum. The Conservatives won 44 seats, the party's best showing in over 70 years; the party hadn't won more than two seats in an election since 1953. On November 20, Rustad established his Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, in which every Conservative MLA received a portfolio. Following the election, Rustad passed his leadership review with 70.66% support in 2025. His leadership in Opposition was marked by internal strife, with the departures and expulsions of many MLAs and the formation of a splinter party named OneBC.

On December 3, 2025, 20 caucus members signed a letter calling for Rustad to resign his position as leader. The party's board of directors passed a resolution ousting him as leader, and appointed Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader. In a statement, the party said that Rustad was too "professionally incapacitated" to continue as leader. However, in the immediate aftermath, five Conservative MLAs refused to acknowledge the board's decision and said that Rustad remained party leader, and Rustad himself rejected the board's decision and declared that he was still the leader of the party. The next day, the Western Standard reported that Rustad would step down as leader, and shortly after he announced his resignation. During his resignation speech, he announced that he would also not stand for re-election at the next election.

Rules Candidates were required to pay a $5,000 application fee, a mandatory $20,000 refundable rules compliance deposit, and a total of $110,000 in non-refundable fees to remain in the race. The deadline to submit candidacy applications was February 15; they required 250 member signatures from at least five of the province's regions. Once approved, candidates were required to pay a second $10,000 fee, followed by $40,000 by April 1, and $60,000 by April 18. There was a $2,000,000 spending limit, with 20% of all monthly donations going to the party. The election itself was held using a weighted electoral district system, with each provincial riding allocated 100 points; ridings with fewer than 100 ballots were allocated points equal to the number of votes cast. The winner must receive more than 50% of the vote, as there will be candidate eliminations in every round of counting held. In order to be eligible to vote members must have been signed up by April 18. Members must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident normally residing in British Columbia and at least 14 years of age.

Campaign Rules and finances The Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) established a strict financial framework for the race, setting a spending limit of $2,000,000 per candidate and requiring that 20 percent of all monthly campaign donations be directed back to the party coffers. To maintain ballot eligibility, contestants faced a total entry cost of $135,000, which included a $5,000 initial application fee, a mandatory $20,000 refundable compliance deposit, and $110,000 in staggered non-refundable fees paid throughout the spring.

Voting was conducted entirely online through the Simply Voting system from May 23 until May 29, 2026, using a preferential ranked ballot. The election rules utilized a weighted point allocation system where each of British Columbia's provincial ridings carried 100 points, with the final scores adjusted for ridings capturing fewer than 100 cast ballots. To secure the leadership, a candidate needed to cross a 50 percent threshold under consecutive rounds of ballot counting. To qualify for a ballot, members were required to sign up by April 18, 2026, and clear a mandatory identity verification process via the online vendor Persona between April 27 and May 20, 2026.

Candidate platforms and messaging Policy debates during the campaign centered primarily on the balance between social conservatism and fiscal management. Caroline Elliott oriented her platform around cultural issues alongside traditional fiscal policy, advocating for the repeal of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and criticizing the governing New Democratic Party (NDP) over public school curriculum standards. Her campaign drew national attention for its organizational structure, securing an external advisory team led by veteran political consultants Kory Teneycke and Nick Kouvalis.

Yuri Fulmer focused his campaign on public safety and economic growth through resource sector expansion. Addressing the province's projected $13.3 billion deficit, Fulmer rejected severe spending cuts in favor of corporate efficiencies and natural resource development in the energy and forestry sectors. Fulmer also proposed local coordination with the minor party OneBC, suggesting that the Conservatives could selectively decline to run candidates in certain ridings to prevent right-of-centre vote splitting.

Field consolidation The candidate field consolidated heavily following the February 15 entry deadline. On February 27, Richmond-Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner withdrew from the race and endorsed candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay. In mid-March, MLAs Bruce Banman and Harman Bhangu simultaneously suspended their campaigns; Banman directed his supporters to vote for Fulmer, while Bhangu endorsed Elliott.

On March 28, former grocery executive Darrell Jones also exited the race to back Elliott, endorsing her focus on small business relief and tax relief measures for younger workers. Following these candidate withdrawals, five candidates remained on the final electronic ballot: Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, and Peter Milobar, running to manage a total party membership that reached a record 42,000 by the close of the sign-up window.

Timeline

2025 December 3 – The party's board of directors passes a resolution ousting John Rustad as leader, and appoints Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader. Rustad rejects the board's decision and declares himself still the leader of the party. December 4 – Rustad announces his resignation as party leader, and Halford officially becomes interim leader. December 15 – Businessman Warren Hamm announces his candidacy.

2026 January 3 – The leadership election organizing committee, the body that governs the contest, is formed. January 6 – Businessman Yuri Fulmer announces his candidacy. January 8 – Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo, announces his candidacy. January 13 – Caroline Elliott, former BC United vice-president, announces her candidacy. January 15 – Iain Black, former BC Liberal MLA for Port Moody-Westwood, announces his candidacy. January 16 – Party announces leadership race date for May 30 and the rules of the race. Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, announces his candidacy. January 27 – Darrell Jones, former president of the Pattison Food Group announces his candidacy. January 29 – Kerry-Lynne Findlay, former Conservative Cabinet Minister and MP for South Surrey—White Rock, announces her candidacy. February 2 – Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, announces his candidacy. February 3 – Steve Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough, announces his candidacy. February 15 – Deadline to submit candidacy applications. Former Party Leader John Rustad announced he would not enter the leadership race after previously requesting and receiving a leadership application. February 18 – Harman Bhangu, MLA for Langley-Abbotsford, announces his candidacy. February 27 – Clare and Kooner drop out of the race and endorse Findlay. February 28 – Banman, Bhangu, Black, Elliott, Findlay, Fulmer, Hamm, Jones, and Milobar are officially approved as candidates having paid the $5,000 preliminary entry fee and collected signatures from at least 250 party members across the province, and had their application approved. March 15 – Banman suspends campaign and endorses Yuri Fulmer. March 16 – Bhangu suspends campaign and endorses Caroline Elliott. March 28 – Jones suspends campaign and endorses Caroline Elliott. April 1 – Deadline to pay $40,000 fee. April 8 – Juno News hosts a leadership debate. April 12 – Hamm suspends campaign and endorses Yuri Fulmer April 18 – Membership sign up cutoff. Deadline to pay $60,000 fee. April 24 – Canada Strong and Free Network hosts a leadership debate. April 28 – Conversations Live and Vancouver Sun host a leadership debate. May 9 – Conversations Global News and Resource Works host a leadership debate. May 23 – Voting begins. May 29 – Voting closes. May 30 – Announcement of the new leader.

Candidates Approved Candidate Experience Announcement dateSlogan Iain Black MLA for Port Moody-Westwood and Port Moody-Coquitlam (2005–2011) Cabinet minister in the Campbell ministry (Labour 2010–2011; Small Business, Technology & Economic Development 2009–2010; Labour and Citizens Services 2008–2009) President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) (2011–2019) 2025 federal Conservative candidate in Coquitlam—Port CoquitlamJanuary 15, 2026"Get BC Back on Track" Caroline Elliott Withdrawn BC United candidate for West Vancouver-Capilano in 2024 Political commentator and researcher Former BC United vice-presidentJanuary 13, 2026"Win For BC" Kerry-Lynne Findlay MP for South Surrey—White Rock (2019–2025) and for Delta—Richmond East (2011–2015) Federal Chief Opposition Whip (2022–2025) Federal Minister of National Revenue (2013–2015), Associate Minister of National Defence (2013)January 29, 2026"More Freedom Less Government!" Yuri Fulmer 2024 BC Conservative candidate in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Entrepreneur and investor Chancellor of Capilano University (2020–present) Chair of the Board of Trustees, United Way Worldwide (2024–present)January 6, 2026"Real Leadership" Peter Milobar MLA for Kamloops Centre (2024–present), for Kamloops-North Thompson (2017–2024) Mayor of Kamloops (2008–2017), city councillor (2002–2008)January 16, 2026"Ready to Lead BC"

Withdrawn Candidate Experience Announcement dateWithdrawal dateSlogan Ref.Harman Bhangu MLA for Langley-Abbotsford (2024–present)February 18, 2026March 16, 2026 (endorsed Elliott)"Let's Rebuild BC Together" Bruce Banman MLA for Abbotsford South (2020–present) BC Conservative caucus whip (2024–2025) City Councillor in Abbotsford (2018–2021) Mayor of Abbotsford (2011–2014)February 2, 2026March 15, 2026(endorsed Fulmer)"Conservative Without Apology"Sheldon Clare MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo (2024–present)January 8, 2026February 27, 2026(endorsed Findlay)"It's Clear – It's Clare"Warren Hamm BusinessmanDecember 15, 2025April 12, 2026(endorsed Fulmer)"Builders – Not Bureaucrats"Darrell Jones Business executiveJanuary 27, 2026March 28, 2026(endorsed Elliott) Steve Kooner MLA for Richmond-Queensborough (2024–present)February 3, 2026February 27, 2026(endorsed Findlay)"Bring Back BC"

Declined Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia (2011–2017), Leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party (2011–2017) Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission (2024–present) Chris Gardner, President and CEO of Independent Contractors and Businesses Association