Incumbent holds seat in tighter race as provincial power changes hands
Incumbent New Democratic Party MLA Bowinn Ma has secured a fourth term representing North Vancouver-Lonsdale, but the night’s result reflects a sharper contest than her previous wins and comes as the province shifts from an NDP majority to a Conservative government.
With all ballot boxes counted, Ma took 10,221 votes, equal to 46.92 per cent of the popular vote in the riding. Conservative challenger Trevor Withers finished second with 9,044 votes (41.52 per cent), while BC Green Party candidate Joshua A. Singer Johnson earned 2,477 votes (11.37 per cent).
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowinn Ma | NDP | 10,221 | 46.92% |
| Trevor Withers | Conservative | 9,044 | 41.52% |
| Joshua A. Singer Johnson | Green | 2,477 | 11.37% |
Ma watched results with supporters and other NDP candidates at a watch party at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel in downtown Vancouver. Celebrating the victory in her home riding, she acknowledged both the honour of serving the community and the larger province-wide disappointment for her party.
"It's been such an honour to serve as MLA for the community of North Vancouver-Lonsdale over the last 10 years and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve them over the next four years,"
Locally, the result marks continuity for North Vancouver-Lonsdale after a decisive two-way win for Ma in 2024 when she won 64.88 per cent of the vote. This time the race was closer, reflecting a province-wide swing: the B.C. Conservatives won a majority government on Saturday and their leader, Lorne Doerkson, is set to become premier.
At the same watch party, outgoing premier and NDP leader David Eby gave a sombre speech announcing he will step down as party leader. He congratulated Doerkson on the victory and acknowledged the NDP's move to the opposition benches.
"The people of British Columbia have asked us to be the official opposition, which is obviously not the result that any of us wanted,"
Eby also said, "It breaks my heart and I accept full responsibility for that outcome," and described his decision to resign as party leader as coming "with a heavy heart."
What the result means for North Vancouver
The re-election of Ma preserves local representation continuity at the constituency level while positioning her as part of a smaller caucus in the legislature. For North Vancouver residents, that dichotomy has practical implications:
- Constituency services and local advocacy will continue under a familiar MLA, with Ma returning for a fourth term.
- Provincial policymaking and budget priorities will change under a Conservative government, affecting health, housing and local infrastructure priorities that MLAs will need to address from opposition benches.
- Close margins in the riding signal heightened political competition in future elections; the Conservative surge reduced Ma’s margin from a dominant 2024 result to a single-digit lead.
Ma reflected on the circumstances that led to the snap election called by the NDP government, noting the stresses endured by caucus members during the previous term. She pointed out that a slim majority had taken a toll on MLAs’ health, saying multiple MLAs had "voted from hospital beds, dealing with cancer or surgery."
For voters in North Vancouver-Lonsdale, the next steps will include watching how their returned MLA adjusts to opposition status and how the new provincial government’s agenda will affect local projects and services. With a tighter race and a new government in charge at the provincial level, the constituency enters a period of both continuity and change.
As the Legislature reconvenes under a new premier, residents and community groups in North Vancouver will be measuring how quickly priorities shift — and how effectively their MLA can press local concerns from across the floor.
