The polls are closed and the results show that BC NDP candidate Ravi Parmar has won the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection to fill the seat vacated by former B.C. premier John Horgan.
Parmar, chair of the Sooke School Board, won with 7,224 votes and 53 per cent of the popular vote, according to Elections B.C., with all ballots boxes reported.
“I am so looking forward to getting out there and working for the people of Langford-Juan de Fuca on the issues that matter most to them,” Parmar told his crowd of supporters on Saturday night. “That’s making sure we are addressing the cost-of-living issue, making sure we are building more schools, making sure we are finishing construction on that university, (in Langford on Goldstream Avenue), making sure we are addressing health care, making sure we are building more infrastructure for our growing community. But friends, I could not have done this without you.”
Finishing in second place was Mike Harris of the B.C. Conservative Party, with 2,689 votes.
In third was Camille Currie of the B.C. Green Party, who finished with 2,386 votes.
Elana Lawson of the B.C. United party (formerly the BC Liberals) ended up in fourth place with 1,169 votes.
Tyson Riel Strandlund of the Communist Party of B.C. finished last with 74 votes.
Harris was an unexpected second-place finisher after running a campaign about Island rail and lowering taxes.
“I tell yah, I couldn’t have done it without the group we had, it was phenomenal,” Harris said. “We had a great group. It just goes to show you that this party is officially the Conservative party in this province, and it’s exciting.”
“For the people out there that have been looking for a home and have been looking to say we have a Conservative Party here for them, I think this is a huge win.”
Harris said his attention is now turning to next year’s general election and the riding of Langford-Highlands, pledging he will be running for office again.
Currie, who ran on a campaign platform heavy on health care, said she will continue to push for improvements.
“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done over the course of this campaign,” said Currie. “It’s been truly inspiring working alongside such passionate volunteers to achieve this result. The people of this community are very important to me. That’s why I am proud to share that I will be seeking the party’s nomination for next year’s general election in the new riding of Langford-Highlands. I will continue to do everything I can to give people the support and opportunities they deserve. I will also continue to serve all British Columbians through my work with B.C. Health Care Matters.”
There were 51,588 registered voters in Langford-Juan de Fuca as of June 14, 2023. In preliminary results, just 13,542 voted in this byelection.
Parmar’s victory will likely mean a byelection will be needed to fill that spot on the Sooke School Board.