Conservative municipal politics are arriving in Kelowna and Kamloops, marking a shift in how political parties engage in British Columbia cities outside the Lower Mainland.
Candidates under the Conservative Electors Association may appear on local ballots next year. The association is separate from both the provincial and federal Conservative parties.
A recent media release from the association emphasized independence. It stated that while the organization follows conservative principles, it focuses solely on municipal issues and local engagement. The release did not name an author but promised more information in the coming weeks.
Elections BC records show the association was registered by David Denhoff, a former BC Conservative caucus policy director. The release highlighted that formally registering as an elector organization protects the Conservative name and clarifies its role for voters in British Columbia.
Denhoff’s social media profile lists him as a “former deputy director” for the party. He declined an interview but confirmed in a text message that he is no longer on the BC Conservative payroll.
While a provincial party spokesperson did not comment, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar said the announcement surprised him. He believed Denhoff was still working within the caucus.
Milobar said he was unaware of the new association until its public announcement. Party leadership confirmed that it is not affiliated with the provincial party. He noted that the use of the “Conservative” name could raise questions, even without a direct connection.
Elections BC allows municipal candidates to have party affiliations, provided campaign finance rules for provincial and municipal elections are followed.
Party politics have historically struggled to gain traction in BC cities outside the Lower Mainland. In Vancouver and nearby cities, local candidates sometimes adopt party labels, but they rarely have formal ties to higher levels of government. The Vancouver Green Party is a notable exception.
It is still too early to know how many candidates will run under the Conservative banner in the 15 cities where the association is registered. Aside from Kelowna and Kamloops, the association has registered in Vancouver, Surrey, Prince George, Fort St. John, Vanderhoof, and Saanich. Denhoff has indicated applications to expand to more cities are pending.
Milobar, a former mayor of Kamloops, said party politics have limited influence in municipal elections outside the Lower Mainland. Despite that, the new association could create a stronger conservative presence in local politics where it registers candidates.
As municipal elections approach next year, voters in Kelowna, Kamloops, and other cities will see whether the Conservative municipal politics initiative can gain ground and influence local governance.
