BC NDP leadership candidate likely to shake up race, says expert

There is now officially a race to replace BC NDP Leader John Horgan, and the addition of Anjali Appadurai is one that is being applauded by some.

Hamish Telford, political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley, says while David Eby remains a front-runner, Appadurai’s decision to throw her hat into the race will likely shake things up.

“I don’t think she presents a serious challenge to winning this race against David Eby, but I do think she provides a serious intellectual challenge to David Eby. So I think this is healthy for the party, were there to be a debate of ideas into the party. We’ll see who wins at the end of it,” he explained.

The associate professor notes Appadurai represents a very important faction of the BC NDP — one that’s butted heads with Eby in the past.

“There’s always been a tension in the NDP between its idealistic way and its more pragmatic, governing wing. He now has to defend the NDP’s governing record, which has been successful but pragmatic, and perhaps not fully embracing the ideals and spirit of the NDP party. I think Ms. Appadurai is going to tap into that idealism.”

Related articles: 

• Anjali Appadurai running for BC NDP leadership

• David Eby seeking BC NDP leadership, premier seat

• B.C. Premier John Horgan to step down

Appadurai, who is working as the director of campaigns for the Climate Emergency Unit, announced her candidacy on Aug. 10. She ran for the federal NDP in 2021, finishing second in the Vancouver-Granville riding, just 431 votes behind Liberal Taleeb Noormohamed.

“In recent weeks, I’ve been hearing from a large and growing movement of largely young people and people who are seriously disillusioned with the direction that this party has taken over the past decades, especially over the last couple of years,” she told CityNews. “And I think it’s important to have those voices heard in this leadership race, and so I answered that call and decided to step up and do this.”

Meanwhile, with just two candidates looking to take the BC NDP’s top job, Telford says it’s unlikely we’ll see anyone else enter the race.

“We’re already almost in the middle of August. Membership sales end in September. Candidates have to be announced by the end of September. It’s hard to put together a campaign team, you have to raise $40,000 just to enter this race, plus you have to raise funds to compete in this race,” he said.

The leadership campaign comes after Premier John Horgan announced at the end of June that he was stepping down, citing his health.

“Many of you will know, in fact I’m pretty sure it’s not a secret, that I have gone through my second bout of cancer and successfully went through 35 radiation treatments and I am currently cancer-free. My health is good but my energy flags as the days go by,” he said on June 28.

Horgan, who has been the leader of the NDP since 2014, was sworn in as premier of British Columbia in July of 2017. He is currently the MLA of Langford-Juan de Fuca.

The NDP leadership vote is set for Dec. 3. Meanwhile, the next provincial election is scheduled for 2024.

-With files from OMNI News