Conservatives Register to Appear on B.C. Civic Ballots

B.C. voters could soon see “Conservative” listed on their municipal ballots after a newly formed group formally registered with Elections B.C.

The Conservative Electors Association, which says it is independent of both the provincial and federal Conservative parties, plans to run candidates in at least 15 municipalities during the next civic elections on Oct. 17, 2026.

In a statement, the association said registering protects the “integrity of the conservative name” and reflects “the enormous momentum of the conservative movement in recent years.” Candidates’ ballot affiliation will appear simply as “Conservative.”

The group has already secured registration to field candidates in cities including Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Prince George. Additional applications are pending.

The association was registered by David Denhoff, a former deputy director of the B.C. Conservative Party. Denhoff said more details will be announced soon but confirmed he does not currently hold a paid position with the provincial party.

The move comes less than a year after the B.C. Conservative Party, under leader John Rustad, nearly toppled the governing NDP in the 2024 provincial election. While the provincial party has surged in popularity, the association emphasized it will focus solely on local issues.

The growing roster of elector organizations now includes more than 50 groups, such as the recently registered Vancouver Liberal Electors Association, which plans to run candidates under the ballot name “Vancouver Liberals.”