The 2024 provincial election brought major changes to the Central Okanagan鈥檚 political landscape.
With no incumbent B.C. United MLAs running and the introduction of the new 麻豆精选-Centre riding, the region faced an unpredictable campaign.
On Aug. 28, with just over three weeks until the official campaign period began, B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon announced a surprising alliance with the Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad. "In cooperation with John Rustad, we will work together to assemble the best possible team of MLAs and candidates to conserve the best interests of British Columbians," Falcon stated during a joint news conference.
The partnership involved vetting candidates riding-by-riding to determine whether a B.C. United or Conservative candidate had the best chance of defeating the NDP. However, the decision blindsided many United MLAs and candidates.
In the Central Okanagan, four B.C. United candidates were initially selected: Michael Humer (麻豆精选-Centre), Ashley Ramsay (麻豆精选-Mission), Pavneet Singh (麻豆精选-Lake Country-Coldstream), and Stephen Johnston (West 麻豆精选-Peachland).
On Sept. 20, the day before the election writ was dropped, Humer announced that he would run as an unaffiliated candidate. He criticized Falcon's decision to suspend the United campaign. 鈥淚 called it the afternoon of the big fork,鈥� Humer said. "We got forked by Kevin.鈥�
Johnston and Ramsay attended Humer鈥檚 press conference, clarifying they were there to support him but not running as part of a slate. They, and Humer, confirmed they were never contacted by B.C. United or the Conservatives about running. Johnston and Ramsay later also launched their campaigns as unaffiliated candidates.
Singh withdrew from the race on Sept. 27, throwing his support behind Conservative candidate Tara Armstrong in 麻豆精选-Lake Country-Coldstream. 鈥淯nfortunately, my continued candidacy may have caused a split in the vote and made it possible for the NDP candidate to win,鈥� Singh stated at the time.
The campaign was marked by controversy, with several Conservative candidates skipping all-candidate forums and refusing to engage with local media. However, the Conservatives swept the Central Okanagan ridings. Armstrong won in 麻豆精选-Lake Country-Coldstream, Kristina Loewen in 麻豆精选-Centre, Gavin Dew in 麻豆精选-Mission, and Macklin McCall in West 麻豆精选-Peachland.
麻豆精选-Centre proved the closest race. Loewen and NDP candidate Loyal Wooldridge were separated by only 147 votes on election night. Loewen declared victory but faced recounts that reduced the margin to just 38 ballots.
On Oct. 30, Elections B.C. ordered a judicial recount overseen by a Supreme Court justice. The recount confirmed Loewen鈥檚 victory, with a final tally of 11,033 votes to Wooldridge's 10,993鈥攁 difference of just 40 votes.
鈥淚 am happy and relieved that the recount is complete, and I'm very much looking forward to moving ahead,鈥� Loewen stated in an email to Black Press Media after the final results. 鈥淚 look forward to serving 麻豆精选 Centre.鈥�
The Conservative MLAs were sworn into office on Nov. 13.
