David Eby has a 16-point lead over John Rustad when British Columbians ponder who would make the “Best Premier”.
Vancouver, BC [October 6, 2025] – The governing BC New Democratic Party (NDP) is ahead of all challengers in British Columbia’s political scene, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 44% of decided voters would cast a ballot for the BC NDP candidate in their constituency, up one point since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in June.
The Conservative Party of BC is in second place with 38% (-4), followed by the BC Green Party with 12% (+4), Centre BC with 3% (+1) and OneBC with 1%.
The BC New Democrats hold a sizeable lead over the BC Conservatives among decided voters aged 55 and over (54% to 35%). The race is closer among decided voters aged 35-to-54 (BC Conservatives 40%, BC NDP 38%) and is tied among decided voters aged 18-to-34 (40% for each party).
On a regional basis, the BC Conservatives are leading in Northern BC (52%) and the Fraser Valley (52%), while the BC NDP is first in Vancouver Island (51%), Southern BC (50%) and Metro Vancouver (44%),
“The BC NDP is holding on to 86% of the voters who supported them in the October 2024 provincial election,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The retention rate is lower for the BC Conservatives (78%) and the BC Greens (74%).”
Practically three-in-five British Columbians (59%, +5) say they would “definitely” or “probably” consider voting for the BC NDP in the next provincial ballot. Fewer of the province’s residents are actively considering casting a ballot for the BC Conservatives (45%, -2), the BC Greens (43%, +6), Centre BC (28%, +9) and OneBC (25%).
This month, 53% of British Columbias (-3) approve of the performance of David Eby as Premier and leader of the BC NDP. The rating is lower for Official Opposition and Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad (37%, =) BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan (34%), Centre BC leader Karin Kirkpatrick (27%, +11) and OneBC leader Dallas Brodie (26%).
On the “Best Premier” question, Eby holds a 16-point lead over Rustad (37% to 21%), with Lowan at 12%, Kirkpatrick at 4% and Brodie at 2%. Almost one-in-four British Columbians (24%) are undecided.
Three-in-ten British Columbians (30%, -4) say housing, poverty and homelessness is the most important issue facing the province, followed by the economy and jobs (23%, +1), health care (23%, +2), crime and public safety (5%, -1), the environment (6%, +3) and accountability (4%, =).
When asked which of the main party leaders is better suited to handle specific issues, Eby is ahead of Rustad on seven of them: education (44% to 26%), the environment (43% to 24%), health care (41% to 28%), housing, poverty and homelessness (40% to 28%), energy (40% to 29%), the economy and jobs (38% to 31%) and accountability (37% to 30%).
The two leaders are tied on who would be best to manage crime and public safety (34% each).
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from October 1 to October 3, 2025, among 801 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca