Emily Lowan has won the Saanich North and the Islands riding in British Columbia’s October 24 provincial election, securing a seat in the legislature for the BC Greens.
With nearly all ballot boxes reporting, Lowan held a wide lead over her main challengers.
Elections BC listed her with 14,296 votes, or 48.59 per cent of the valid vote.
Conservative candidate Ryan Windsor was second with 9,319 votes, while BC NDP candidate Kala Bryson had 5,103 votes.
CentreBC candidate Richard Smith received 683 votes.
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Emily Lowan leads in Saanich North and the Islands
The result marks Lowan’s first election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and gives the Green Party a returning member in a riding it held before the campaign.
The riding includes communities on the Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands north of Victoria.
Former Green MLA Rob Botterell announced before the election that he would not seek re-election, clearing the way for Lowan to run in the district where she grew up.
Lowan announced her candidacy on September 23, 2026, alongside the party’s election plans.
At the time, she pointed to healthcare access, housing costs, ferry service, affordability and climate-related risks as key concerns for residents.
The BC Greens have presented Lowan’s campaign as part of a broader effort focused on affordability, healthcare, economic fairness and climate policy.
What the preliminary result means
Lowan’s margin was large enough to place her well ahead of the other candidates on election night.
However, Elections BC cautioned that election-night figures remain preliminary until the required counting and verification processes are completed.
Some ballots are not included in the initial count, including vote-by-mail ballots, assisted telephone voting ballots and certain absentee ballots.
Elections BC scheduled the final count to begin on November 6, 2026.
The riding’s preliminary turnout was based on 29,424 total votes considered, including 23 rejected ballots.
The final result will be confirmed after Elections BC completes its count and declaration process.
A new phase for the B.C. Greens
Lowan became leader of the BC Green Party in September 2025 after the party’s leadership contest.
Before entering provincial politics, she worked as an organizer and advocate on climate justice, Indigenous solidarity and democratic reform, according to the party.
Her election gives the Greens a leader with a seat in the legislature as the party prepares to respond to the province’s new political landscape.
The election-night results showed the BC Greens leading in two of B.C.’s 93 electoral districts, while the Conservatives led in most ridings and the BC NDP remained competitive in others.
The overall seat distribution was still being finalized as counting continued.
Lowan’s victory also means she will be able to participate directly in debates and legislative proceedings rather than leading the party from outside the legislature.
What happens next
Elections BC will continue processing ballots and conducting integrity checks before the final count.
The agency says the final count is intended to ensure that eligible ballots are counted and that voters are not counted more than once.
Until that process is complete, Lowan’s result should be described as preliminary rather than formally declared.
The final count could adjust vote totals, although the current margin gives her a substantial lead.
Once the results are confirmed, Lowan will face the task of establishing the BC Greens’ role in the new legislature while representing a riding that includes both mainland communities and island residents with distinct transportation, housing and healthcare concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Emily Lowan win the 2026 B.C. election in Saanich North and the Islands?
Emily Lowan led the riding in preliminary results from the October 24, 2026 provincial election. Elections BC must complete the final count before the result is formally declared.
How many votes did Emily Lowan receive?
Elections BC listed Lowan with 14,296 votes, representing 48.59 per cent of the valid vote in the preliminary count.
Who finished second in Saanich North and the Islands?
Conservative candidate Ryan Windsor finished second in the preliminary count with 9,319 votes, followed by BC NDP candidate Kala Bryson with 5,103 votes.
When is the final count for the B.C. election?
Elections BC scheduled the final count to begin on November 6, 2026. The count includes ballots that were not included in the initial election-night results.
What does Lowan’s victory mean for the BC Greens?
It gives BC Green Party Leader Emily Lowan a seat in the Legislative Assembly and allows her to lead the party from inside the legislature.
Fact-Checked: Key vote totals, candidate standings, preliminary-result warnings and the November 6 final-count date were checked against Elections BC information, while Lowan’s candidacy and party leadership history were checked against BC Green Party statements. ([results.elections.bc.ca](https://results.elections.bc.ca/Results_11684_GE-2026-10-24_Candidate.html))
Disclaimer: Election-night results are preliminary until Elections BC completes the final count and formally declares the result.