Why has B.C.’s snap election caught both main parties unprepared?

British Columbia's snap election has caught both main parties, the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP), unprepared. Political observers and analysts have noted that such a situation is unusual, as typically one side should be ready to go into an election campaign. The current election campaign has been notably different from previous ones, with interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson skipping several media availabilities and the NDP shifting its messaging to focus on affordability and stability.

The NDP campaign bus, adorned with former leader David Eby's face, now appears anonymous. Hamish Telford, a political science professor, has remarked on the lack of preparation, especially since the NDP called the snap election. He had initially anticipated a different Conservative leader and advised against holding the election.

Angelo Isidorou, the Conservatives' chief strategist, attributes the messiness of the snap election to the simultaneous municipal polls, a unique occurrence in B.C. He also pointed to the unpredictability of the election timing as a factor contributing to the parties' lack of readiness. Both parties have faced challenges in vetting candidates for the election, with the NDP falling short of its 93-riding candidate target and the Conservatives disavowing two candidates over controversial social media posts.