Why David Eby is seemingly running for re-election against Donald Trump

If his first speeches are any indication, B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is running for re-election against one main opponent.

The NDP is tying popularity hopes less to its leader, and more to outside events

Justin McElroy · CBC News

· Posted: Sep 24, 2026 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

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If his first speeches are any indication, B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is running for re-election against one main opponent.

And it’s not B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson.

"There are big challenges out there for our province, challenges that are impacted by Trump's actions in positive and negative ways," said Eby at his day one campaign rally at the Canada-U.S. border, the unmistakable outline of the Peace Arch right behind him for the benefit of the cameras.

"I have a clear preference about which direction we should go: build up our province, strengthen our people, shoulder-to-shoulder across the country, standing up to Trump."

Overall, Eby said U.S. President Donald Trump’s name 18 times during Wednesday’s event. He said Trump’s name 19 times at his first public appearance to announce an election call. He said Doerkson’s name four times on Wednesday, and not once the day before. 

For an indication as to why, look to both current events — but also the polls. 

WATCH | NDP Leader David Eby seeking re-election:

Why the B.C. NDP's David Eby seems to be running for re-election against Donald Trump

12 hours ago|

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There have been plenty of announcements and news conferences on the first full day of the provincial election campaign. But as Justin McElroy explains, it’s already clear that U.S. President Donald Trump is what the B.C. NDP and Leader David Eby will be focusing on.

Constitutional, but is it honourable?

Since his re-election in 2024, Eby’s approval rating in the quarterly polls of all Canadian premiers done by the Angus Reid Institute has declined from a high of 53 per cent in March 2025 to 31 per cent in June of this year.

Whether it’s because of going back and forth on changes to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, drug decriminalization, or the announcement of record deficits, the number of people inclined to voice their support for Eby in polls had been going down over the past 18 months. 

And that was before any possible backlash of calling a snap election in the first place, which seems to have riled even mild mannered political scientists.

"A number of people would say, look, you may have the constitutional authority, but you shouldn’t do it," said Philippe Lagassé, a Carleton University professor and frequently cited expert on the Canadian constitutional system.

"It’s not very fair, it’s not very honourable, it’s not the right thing to do, it’s not very good for democracy. And I think there, I would agree," he said.

However, Eby’s high point of 53 per cent happened in the weeks after Trump kickstarted the current tensions with his threat of tariffs and 51st state rhetoric, which Eby responded to by removing American booze from government liquor stores. 

• Video

  Eby 'seems to be running against Trump more than anything' after calling snap election, pundit says

Perhaps that previous boost in popularity informed Eby’s rhetoric, perhaps not. But with a seeming lack of enthusiasm towards Eby, many political experts are saying it makes sense for the NDP leader to pivot to Trump.

"Eby benefits from this issue where he can now try to reposition the NDP as not a social democratic party, but a party that is pragmatic and following … Mark Carney's rhetoric, especially when it comes to trade and economic development," said Simon Fraser University political scientist Sanjay Jeram.

Newest poll shows slight NDP lead

And that pivot, combined with all the uncertainty with the Conservative Party in the last year, may well work in Eby’s favour. 

Liaison Strategies conducted a poll on Tuesday — the day Eby called the election — surveying 1,000 British Columbians with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. And it showed the NDP with 41 per cent support, compared to the Conservatives with 36 per cent, the Greens at 12 per cent, and CentreBC and OneBC at four per cent each.

If that result held, it would likely give Eby the clear majority he argued is needed to build what he called a Trump firewall. 

Which is why many see logic in the NDP’s approach, especially when one considers the state of the Conservative Party in the week leading up to the call. 

"Up until a day ago, the Conservatives seemed to be in disarray without a leader, and prior to that, a leader who seemed to be doing more harm than good, actively sowing chaos throughout the party," said University of British Columbia political scientist Stewart Prest. 

But of course, in a single day, the Conservatives did remove Kerry-Lynne Findlay as leader, and replaced her with Doerksen.

In a single day, a snap election was called, and seven of eight CentreBC MLAs moved back to the Conservative caucus. 

In a single 24-hour period, four NDP cabinet ministers announced they won’t be running again: Ravi Kahlon, Brenda Bailey, Kelly Greene, and Lana Popham.

A lot can change in a single day, especially in B.C. politics. 

And while the last two days showed a clear message from the NDP, there are 31 left to go.