Full Breakdown
CentreBC leader Elenore Sturko stays upbeat after election-night loss
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Night Outcome
On election night the newly formed CentreBC party failed to win any seats in the 93-member British Columbia legislature. Party leader Elenelf Sturko addressed supporters at the party’s Surrey headquarters, acknowledging the disappointment while emphasizing the work the party had accomplished over the campaign.
Background and Party Formation
CentreBC was launched in 2025 to provide a centrist alternative for voters dissatisfied with the province’s main parties. The party fielded 35 candidates, a modest slate compared with the full 93-seat contest. Sturko, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, entered provincial politics with a 2022 by-election win as a Liberal MLA. She crossed the floor to the BC Conservatives, was re-elected in 2024, and was expelled from the Conservative caucus by former leader John Rustad in 2025 for “not being a team player.” After sitting as an independent, she assumed the CentreBC leadership when Premier David Eby called a snap election.
Candidate Slate and Electoral Prospects
Sturko told voters she hoped the party could secure at least two seats, though she recognized that even that target would be difficult. The Globe and Mail reported that CentreBC’s 35 candidates represent roughly 38 % of the total ridings. Pollster Shachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute noted a shortage of candidates as a challenge for both CentreBC and the similarly small OneBC party. Political scientist Hamish Telford expressed skepticism that either party would win a seat, but warned that they could act as “spoilers” by drawing votes from the Conservatives or New Democrats in close contests.
Official Statements & Responses
Sturko’s speech combined personal reflection with a call to recognize the party’s broader impact. She said the election results fell short of the party’s expectations and that the party had “worked hard” to build a platform of practical solutions. Emphasizing the value of the relationships and ideas the party had introduced, she urged supporters to remain proud of what had been achieved despite the lack of legislative seats.
Why It Matters
Even without winning representation, CentreBC’s presence may influence the overall election outcome. Analysts suggest that the party’s centrist positioning could siphon votes from both the governing Conservatives and the opposition NDP in tightly contested ridings, potentially altering the distribution of seats among the major parties.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m a bit emotional as I deliver this speech tonight, but please know it’s not because I’m sad. It’s because I’ve so enjoyed serving my community and the gravity of knowing how many of you supported me during these last four years of elected service, and now that that is changing, it’s heavy,” — Elenore Sturko
- “Tonight the results may not be what we hoped for. We may not have won a seat in the legislature and I know it’s disappointing because we did work hard. We believed in what we were building and we wanted the opportunity to put our ideas into action. But I want you to remember something,” — Elenore Sturko
- “We wanted to use that time to tell British Columbians what the point of us is,” — Ms. Sturko