Progressives win both Vancouver council seats in byelection, ruling ABC Party loses out

The political party that swept to power in Vancouver's 2022 civic election failed to maintain that momentum in Saturday's byelection, when the two vacant council seats were won by candidates from opposition parties.

According to preliminary results, Sean Orr — a housing activist, landscaper and dishwasher running with the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) — received 34,448 votes.

He was followed closely by OneCity's Lucy Maloney, an environmental lawyer, who secured 33,732 votes, according to the city.

The next closest candidate, Colleen Hardwick of TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, finished with 17,352 votes.

The City of Vancouver says turnout stood at around 15 per cent — a 40 per cent increase from the 2017 byelection, when the turnout was around 11 per cent.  A total of 67,962 ballots were cast.

There were 13 candidates who competed to fill the two vacancies left by former OneCity councillor Christine Boyle, now an MLA, and former Green councillor Adriane Carr, who retired in January.

Orr campaigned against what he calls the "disproportionate political power of the rich" in Vancouver, and for protecting tenants from demovictions, or demolition driven evictions, and exploitation while also combating homelessness.

Maloney campaigned to restore the city's renter advocacy office to strengthen tenant protections and push for the mental health nurses ABC promised during the 2022 campaign.

"You have voted for progressive and principled opposition. And that's what I will deliver," she wrote in a post on X following her win.

In 2022, Mayor Ken Sim and the ABC Vancouver Party won seven of the 10 council seats. 

ABC had hoped to extend its majority with candidates Jaime Stein, an ex-B.C. United candidate, and Ralph Kaisers, a police officer with a 30-year career and the head of the Vancouver Police Department's union.

Stein came in sixth of the 13 candidates Saturday, with 9,267 votes, according to the city, while Kaisers claimed seventh with 8,915 votes.

Mayor Sim addressed supporters earlier in the evening, saying: "While the results tonight didn't go the way that we hoped for … we look forward to working with the two elected officials."

ABC candidate Stein said he was proud of the campaign and thanked voters for their support.

"We weren't negative. We didn't punch down ... I'm incredibly proud of the campaign we ran."

WATCH | Vancouver byelection count delayed as voters remain in line after polls close: 

Vancouver byelection count delayed as voters remain in line after polls close

2 days ago

Duration 1:57

Vote counting in Vancouver's two-seat city council byelection was delayed, with the city confirming that results wouldn’t be released until all remaining voters in line at the 25 polling stations have cast their ballots. Chad Pawson reports.

Ballot counting was delayed after several polling locations reported long lineups at 8 p.m., the official close of polls.

CBC News received multiple reports of long lines at polling stations across the city, including Strathcona Community Centre and Kitsilano War Memorial Community Centre, with some locations seeing about 100 people waiting to vote after polls closed.

The city confirmed to CBC that the number of polling stations and the number of people staffing them had been significantly cut compared to the 2017 byelection — a decision brought forward by staff and approved by council in January.

Official election results will be declared on April 9 before 4 p.m. PT.

WATCH | Long lines plague city byelection: 

High turnout and 62% staffing cut lead to major lines in Vancouver byelection

2 days ago

Duration 1:53

Long lineups were reported at polling stations across Vancouver on Saturday as voters cast ballots in a two-seat city council byelection. In a statement Saturday afternoon, a city spokesperson attributed the delays to “significantly higher voter turnout.” Justin McElroy breaks down what led to the lengthy waits.