For a political party that basically imploded this month as it ousted its leader, the BC Conservatives end 2025 in a surprisingly competitive position.

Roughly 44 per cent of decided British Columbians say they’d vote NDP if an election were held now, compared to 39 per cent BC Conservatives, nine per cent BC Greens and seven percent OneBC, according to figures Monday by polling firm Pallas Data.

That despite John Rustad’s messy ouster Dec. 4, following months of turmoil and infighting within the Conservatives. Under normal circumstances, a party that just detonated its leader would be sinking fast. But voter anger with the government seems to be acting like a flotation device for the Conservatives.

The Pallas Data numbers line up with other recent polling. Angus Reid, for example, put the NDP at 43 per cent and the Conservatives at 40 per cent last week.

It’s a small, but not necessarily comfortable, lead for the BC NDP as it enters its ninth year in power. It’s also an opening the Conservatives might be able to take advantage of, if they could get their act together. Interim leader Trevor Halford said stability is his top priority.

“I really want to make sure that there is no free pass with the NDP,” he said.

“When you look at every single issue that we’ve got, it's our job to take these guys to the mat and show British Columbians........

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