After two high-profile defections from both parties on the right wing of British Columbia politics, British Columbia Conservative Party And vowed to keep up the momentum.
On Monday, Sarri was outspoken BC United Legislative Council Eleanor Sturco The announcement to join the rival party comes just days after BC United Party MP and caucus chair Lorne Doerkson defected. On Tuesday, former BC Conservative candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville withdrew from the race.
The moves have fueled speculation that more defections could be coming, as the BC Conservatives are well ahead of the United BC Party in the polls and merger talks have failed.
British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad told Global News on Tuesday that he is working to get 93 seats available to outstanding local candidates to run as quickly as possible.
But he acknowledged he was leaving room for other possible cross-party figures.
“We left some seats open for future changes,” Rustad said.
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BC United plans to field a full slate of candidates, but only 13 incumbents are currently running for re-election.
They include party loyalists Todd Stone, Peter Milobar, Shirley Bond, Jackie Tegart and Trevor Halford.
Incumbents Tom Shypitka, Coralee Oakes, Dan Davies and Mike Brnier are running in areas where the Conservatives are polling higher. But they are all long-time members of the party, and they are running in constituencies where the Conservatives already have candidates.
Potential Conservative candidates Teresa Wat and Ian Paton have both vowed to remain with BC United.
But Sturko's departure may be a sign that candidates are feeling some pressure behind the scenes.
She told Global News on Tuesday that voters told her on the spot they wanted her to change her stance after talks of right-wing bipartisanship failed.
“I’m doing what I think is right and trying to strengthen support for the party that really resonates with British Columbians right now,” she said.
Although the latest developments appear to indicate that BC United's momentum is fading, University of British Columbia political scientist Gerald Baier said he expects Kevin Falcon to fight to the bitter end.
“I think we’re past the stage of trying to reintroduce BC United. We had a massive advertising campaign to somehow reintroduce the party, reintroduce its leaders,” he said. “I think now is the time to play to their strengths, which will be the quality of some local candidates.”
He added that as a new party with less money and fewer grassroots organizers, the Conservatives may still face challenges running a grassroots campaign across the province.
One Conservative strategist acknowledged that the presence of the United BC Party and the BC Conservative Party on the ballot would likely mean a split in the right-wing vote on election day.
“We’re going to hand that power to the NDP and David Eby in this election, but it’s not going to be someone taking over the centre-right in this election, it’s going to be someone taking over in the next election,” said Allie Blades of Mash Strategy.
“What’s really important is that John Rustad makes sure he maintains the message discipline, the structure discipline, because this could all fall apart at any time, the situation he’s in is so fluid, and that will be to BC United’s benefit.”
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