Premier David Eby has called a provincial byelection in Abbotsford‑Mission for Sept. 26, clearing a path for B.C. Conservative leader Kerry‑Lynne Findlay to try to win a seat in the legislature.
Resignation opens the door
The byelection follows the decision by incumbent MLA Reann Gasper to step down to make way for the party leader. Gasper defeated former NDP agriculture minister Pam Alexis by roughly 10 percentage points — about 2,600 votes — in the 2024 provincial election. Alexis, who previously held the seat in 2020, has been nominated by the NDP to run in the byelection.
The riding’s boundaries have changed since 2020, a factor that could affect vote patterns in the upcoming contest.
Leadership, defections and party fractures
Findlay was elected leader of the B.C. Conservatives in May. She does not currently hold a seat in the legislature, and the Abbotsford‑Mission contest offers a direct route to securing one.
The decision by Gasper to vacate the seat comes amid instability within the provincial Conservative caucus. Six MLAs have left the B.C. Conservative caucus in recent weeks, and at least one former MLA, Peter Milobar, said it is too soon for a new party he plans to form with fellow former Conservative Ian Paton to field a candidate.
OneBC MLA Dallas Brodie, who was expelled from the B.C. Conservatives last year, wrote on social media that her party would not run a candidate so as not to split the vote. The B.C. Green Party declined to comment on whether it will contest the byelection.
Other parties weigh their options
CentreBC leader Mike Bernier told party supporters he has been approached by several potential candidates and that he will announce a name soon. The decision by OneBC not to run a candidate suggests some right‑of‑centre coordination may be developing, although several former Conservatives have explicitly refused to step aside in earlier requests to make room for Findlay.
The NDP’s decision to nominate Pam Alexis makes the race a clear three‑way contest between the governing party, the B.C. Conservatives and other centre‑right options. Alexis’s prior service as agriculture minister and her 2020 victory give her local name recognition despite her loss in 2024.
Why Abbotsford‑Mission matters
Abbotsford‑Mission is a high‑profile test for the B.C. Conservatives and for Findlay personally. A victory would give the party leader formal voice in the legislature and could stabilise the party’s standing after a period of MLAs departing the caucus. A loss would leave the leader outside the legislature and prolong the party’s internal turmoil.
For the NDP, defending or regaining the seat is part of maintaining momentum in the Fraser Valley region. For CentreBC and other smaller parties, the byelection presents an opportunity to measure support and decide whether to contest future provincial races aggressively.
What to watch before Sept. 26
- Whether Kerry‑Lynne Findlay formally accepts the nomination and becomes the Conservative candidate.
- CentreBC’s candidate announcement and whether OneBC or other splinter groups enter the race.
- Campaign messaging on local issues such as agriculture, housing and health care — areas where candidates with prior ministerial experience may compete for credibility.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Byelection date | Sept. 26, 2026 |
| Outgoing MLA | Reann Gasper (B.C. Conservatives) |
| NDP candidate | Pam Alexis |
| Potential Conservative candidate | Kerry‑Lynne Findlay (party leader) |
The Abbotsford‑Mission byelection will be closely watched in Victoria and across the province as an indicator of how fractured right‑of‑centre politics in B.C. will translate at the ballot box. It also tests the practical options available to a party leader without a seat and the willingness of local representatives to reconfigure representation to accommodate party strategy.
As campaigns begin, voters in the riding will weigh personal familiarity with candidates, recent boundary changes and competing visions for regional priorities. The result on Sept. 26 will be an early gauge of party strength heading into the next general political cycle in British Columbia.
