Richmond votes Conservative across all four ridings in B.C. sweep

Richmond voters elected Conservative candidates to all four of the city's provincial ridings Saturday, extending the party's sweep across the Lower Mainland and securing a majority government before all ridings were called.

Sacha Peter won Richmond Centre for the Conservatives, defeating NDP incumbent Henry Yao. Peter cited voter concerns over the end of decriminalization policies and the province's fiscal situation. "It brings tears to me that I have this outpouring of support," Peter told Richmond News.

Former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Teresa Wat won re-election in Richmond-Bridgeport with 9,309 votes. Steve Kooner and Gordon Zhang also won as Conservative candidates in Richmond ridings.

The Conservative gain from three Richmond seats in 2024 to four this election reflected the party's dominance across the region. Richmond-Steveston became the only seat to change party hands locally, with NDP MLA Kelly Greene declining to run for re-election.

Yao, who had held Richmond Centre from 2020 to 2024, pulled out of the Richmond mayoral race at the last minute to run provincially. He said the decision left him regretting he hadn't finished the municipal campaign. "What truly breaks my heart is that I really worry about the vulnerable people of Richmond," Yao said.