2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election

The 2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election was to be held from September 24 to 27 with the results announced on September 28; however, as John Horgan was the only candidate to be officially nominated by the deadline of May 1, 2014, at 5 pm, he was acclaimed leader.^[1] The election was called following Adrian Dix's resignation announcement on September 18, 2013, several months after the party's unexpected defeat in the 2013 election after pre-campaign polls had shown the NDP ahead by as much as 20 points.^[2][3][4]

2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election

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Candidate John Horgan First ballot Acclaimed

Leader before election Adrian Dix Elected Leader John Horgan

2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election

Date	May 4, 2014 (2014-05-04)
Resigning leader	Adrian Dix
Won by	John Horgan
Ballots	0 (acclamation)
Candidates	1
Entrance Fee	$25,000
Spending limit	$350,000
British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership conventions 1939 · 1953 · 1956 · 1961 · 1967 · 1969 · 1970 · 1984 · 1987 · 1996 · 2000 · 2003 · 2011 · 2014 · 2022

The party set the entrance fee for candidates at $25,000 and a spending maximum of $350,000.^[5]

The leadership vote was to be conducted by preferential ballot cast via internet and telephone with all party members being eligible to vote. The voting was to occur from September 24 to 27 with the results announced on September 28. Unlike the previous leadership election, which was also conducted on a "one member, one vote" basis, members would not have had the option of voting at the convention itself or on a live ballot by ballot basis but can only cast a preferential ballot and do so by internet or phone.^[5]

The deadline for candidates to be nominated was May 1, 2014. The deadline to join the NDP and be eligible to vote was to be June 26, 2014.^[6]

Timeline

• May 14, 2013 – NDP fails to win provincial election, dropping by two seats, despite having led the Liberals in polling prior to the election campaign.
• September 18, 2013 – Adrian Dix announces his decision to resign as leader once his successor is chosen.
• January 18–19, 2014 – NDP executive decides on rules and timeline for leadership election to be held September 28, 2014.
• March 2, 2014 – NDP Finance Critic Mike Farnworth announces his candidacy.
• March 17, 2014 – NDP Education Critic John Horgan declares his candidacy.
• April 8, 2014 – Farnsworth withdraws, endorses Horgan.
• May 1, 2014 – Deadline for candidates to be nominated; Horgan acclaimed NDP leader.
• May 4, 2014 – Horgan officially inaugurated as NDP leader.^[7]

Candidates

John Horgan

MLA for Juan de Fuca since 2005, Horgan had been Opposition Critic for Education and, until his candidacy was announced, he was Opposition Energy Critic (2006–2014) and Opposition House Leader (2011–2014). Horgan ran in the 2011 leadership election, placing third.

Support from caucus members: Carole James,^[8] Harry Bains, Mable Elmore,^[9] David Eby, Michelle Mungall,^[10] Selina Robinson,^[11] Sue Hammell,^[12] Maurine Karagianis, Bill Routley,^[13] Raj Chouhan^[14] Robin Austin, Judy Darcy, Kathy Corrigan, Scott Fraser, Jane Shin, Claire Trevena^[15]

Support from federal caucus members: Fin Donnelly^[11]

Support from former caucus members: Dawn Black, Joe Trasolini^[11]

Date candidacy declared: March 17, 2014^[8]

Policies:

Withdrawn candidates

Mike Farnworth

Farnworth was MLA for Port Coquitlam (1991–2001, 2005–present), Opposition Finance Critic, former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1997–98), Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing (1998–2000), Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors (2000), and Minister Social Development and Economic Security (2000–01). He placed second in the 2011 leadership election.

Support from caucus members: Lana Popham, Doug Donaldson,^[16] Norm Macdonald^[17]

Support from federal caucus members:

Support from former caucus members:

Date candidacy declared: March 2, 2014^[18]

Date withdrawn: April 8, 2014

Reason: Farnworth withdrew, conceding that he could not beat Horgan, who had amassed the support of over half the NDP's 34-member caucus. He had not officially registered his candidacy prior to deciding not to run.^[9]

Potential candidates who declined to run

MLAs Rob Fleming,^[19] David Eby,^[20] Judy Darcy^[21] and George Heyman, federal MPs Kennedy Stewart, Nathan Cullen, Fin Donnelly and Peter Julian, mayors Derek Corrigan and Gregor Robertson^[5] and Vancouver School Board chairperson Patti Bacchus^[22] all announced that they will not be candidates for the party leadership.

Notes

References

1. "John Horgan acclaimed as B.C. NDP leader". Vancouver Sun. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
2. Ferry, Jon (May 15, 2013). "Jobs, tax fears win out as Liberal victory proves pundits wrong". The Province. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
3. Fowlie, Jonathan (May 15, 2013). "Liberals pull off stunning B.C. win, form majority government". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
4. Hébert, Chantal (May 15, 2013). "NDP across Canada must be mourning stunning B.C. election loss". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
5. "New NDP rules will make challenging Farnworth tougher". Vancouver Sun. January 21, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
6. . BC NDP. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
7. "John Horgan acclaimed new leader of B.C. NDP". CBC News. May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
8. "John Horgan enters B.C. NDP leadership race with support of former leader". The Globe and Mail. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
9. "NDP's Horgan sole candidate for leadership as Farnworth drops out". The Globe and Mail. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
10. "B.C.'s Horgan rallies support for NDP leadership campaign". Globe and Mail. March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
11. "NDP leadership candidate John Horgan picks up Tri-Cities support". The Now. April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
12. "NDP leadership candidate John Horgan announces support from 10 new MLAs". Global News. March 23, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
13. "MLA John Horgan announces another run at the B.C. NDP leadership". Vancouver Sun. March 17, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
14. . Indo-Canadian Voice. March 30, 2014. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
15. "NDP members, not MLAs, will decide next leader: Farnworth". The Tyee. March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
16. . Tri-City News. April 4, 2014. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
17. "MLA Macdonald to support Farnworth". The Lake Windermere Valley Echo. Invermere, BC. September 25, 2013. p. 1.
18. "Mike Farnworth strikes hardline tone for B.C. NDP leadership race". The Globe and Mail. March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
19. "Fleming gives B.C. NDP leadership race a pass". Globe and Mail. March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
20. Shaw, Rob (February 13, 2014). "David Eby abandons B.C. NDP leadership bid after finding out he'll be a father". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
21. "MLA Darcy won't run for NDP leadership". Vancouver Sun. January 23, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
22. "Class Notes: VSB Chair Bacchus says no to NDP run". Vancouver Courier. March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.