Eby faces steep unfavorable rating as Doerkson remains largely unknown to B.C. voters

As British Columbia heads into the final stretch of its election campaign, Premier David Eby faces a steep unfavorable rating while Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson remains largely an unknown quantity to voters, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll released October 8.

Seventyeight percent of British Columbians name something they dislike about Eby, the incumbent NDP leader who has been premier for two years. Among those with negative views, 24% cite dishonesty or broken promises, and 20% describe him as a weak or ineffective leader. Less than 50% name something positive about Eby. When they do, the top attributes are personal character (13%), leadership and competence (13%), and policies or NDP values (12%).

Doerkson, the B.C. Conservative leader, benefits from lower name recognition and lower negativity. Thirty-one percent say they don't know enough about him to name a positive attribute, while fewer than half cannot identify something they dislike. Among undecided voters specifically, the pattern is more pronounced: 55% cannot name a positive attribute of Doerkson, and 50% cannot offer a criticism.

Where voters do have opinions about Doerkson, 14% rate him positively for conservative values, 14% cite him as representing change or a fresh start, and 14% highlight his perceived honesty. On the negative side, 18% criticize his conservative ideology, 10% point to his inexperience, and 10% express concerns about the party's stance on social issues and extreme elements.

The contrast underscores a classic challenge for incumbent versus opposition leaders: Eby has spent two years in the public eye accumulating negative impressions, while Doerkson remains relatively undefined in voters' minds. Whether that undefined status works to his advantage or becomes a liability will likely depend on how the final two weeks of campaigning play out before the October 24 election.