Horgan pulling away from Wilkinson in early race for premier, says poll

A recent poll indicates that BC voters are happy with the status quo when it comes to their provincial leader.

Conducted by Research Co., the poll asked 750 likely voters who they think will make the best premier come election day on Oct. 24.

Two-thirds of British Columbians (67%) approve of the way Premier and BC NDP leader John Horgan is handling his duties, while one-in-four (25%) disapprove.

The Leader of the BC NDP John Horgan currently carries an impressive 17-point lead over his BC Liberal counterpart in the poll, with 44% of those polled saying they would support Horgan, compared to 27% support for opposition leader Andrew Wilkinson.

The BC Green Party is third with 12%, followed by the BC Conservatives with 4% and the remaining 13% still undecided.

Assessing different demographics across the country, the BC NDP holds a 12-point lead among decided female voters (47% to 35%), while the race is significantly closer among decided male voters (41% for the BC NDP and 39% for the BC Liberals).

The BC Green Party has its best numbers among decided voters aged 18-to-34 (22%, with the BC NDP at 38%) and on Vancouver Island (22%, with the BC NDP at 50%).

The BC Liberals' only lead in the polls comes regionally in the area of southern BC where they are six-points ahead of the BC NDP (43% to 37%).

A the start of the provincial campaign, the most pressing concerns of voters in British Columbia vary greatly depending on age,” said Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.

“Housing, poverty and homelessness is especially important for those aged 18-to-34 (29%), while the economy and jobs is top of mind for those aged 35-to-54 (26%) and health care is paramount for those aged 55 and over (29%).”

More than one-in-four likely voters (26%) think health care is the most important issue facing the province.

Housing, poverty and homelessness are all a close second at 24%, followed by the economy and jobs (21%), COVID-19 (11%), crime and public safety (8%) and the environment (7%).