British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad has been re-elected in his riding of Nechako Lakes.
Rustad was kicked out of the Opposition BC United Party for his support on social media of an outspoken climate change critic in 2022, and last year was acclaimed as the B.C. Conservative leader.
Buoyed by the BC United party suspending its campaign, and the popularity of Pierre Poilievre's federal Conservatives, Rustad led his party into contention in the provincial election.
Polls have closed in British Columbia after a rain-drenched election day in much of the province. Voters braved high winds and torrential downpours brought by an atmospheric river weather system that forced closures of several polling stations due to power outages.
Photos and videos posted to social media showed brown floodwaters rushing over streets throughout Metro Vancouver, including West Vancouver, the North Vancouver community of Deep Cove, Surrey, Burnaby, and Port Coquitlam.
Here's the latest on the race to form the next provincial government between the New Democrats, led by David Eby, and John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives, with Green Leader Sonia Furstenau hoping her party can maintain a presence in the legislature:
With elections just around the corner in October, the political landscape in British Columbia is experiencing significant changes. The BC NDP, which has been in power for nearly seven years, faces mounting challenges. The province is grappling with soaring rent, cost of living, and a notable outflow of residents.
President Joe Biden was making phone calls and texting congratulations to a number of Democratic winners and still-to-be-declared leaders before an afternoon news conference, a victory lap few would have predicted 24 hours earlier.
Democrats Pramila Jayapal in Washington State, Raja Krishnamoorthi in Illinois and Ro Khanna in California have been reelected in the midterm elections, while Ami Bera was leading in California on Wednesday morning. The Indian American members of Congress have nicknamed themselves the "Samosa Caucus".