2018 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election
Canadian provincial party election
A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election was held on February 3, 2018, due to the resignation of Christy Clark as Liberal leader on August 4, 2017. Rich Coleman was elected interim leader.
Former Attorney General Andrew Wilkinson was elected over former federal Conservative Party MP Dianne Watts on the fifth ballot by 6.24 %. Wilkinson had come in fifth on the first ballot and trailed Watts on all but the final ballot.
Background
Under leaders Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, the BC Liberal Party governed the province from 2001 until June 2017. In May 2017, the provincial election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Liberals holding 43 seats, one short of the 44 required for a majority. Clark initially formed a minority government, but resigned as premier after being defeated in a confidence vote by an alliance of the British Columbia New Democratic Party and Green Party of British Columbia. On July 28, 2017, Clark announced that she would resign as party leader and as MLA for Kelowna West on August 4. The BC Liberal Caucus selected Rich Coleman, MLA for Langley East, as interim leader, to serve until a permanent leader can be chosen.
Procedure
Party president Sharon White released a statement on Clark's resignation on the same day it was announced.
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