Elenore Sturko loses seat for CentreBC in return to Surrey South

The Canadian Press decision desk is projecting that CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko has lost her bid to win back her former seat in Surrey South.

The former RCMP officer, who was defeated by B.C. Conservative Megan Knight, was previously elected to the riding in 2022 as a B.C. Liberal before joining the Conservatives in 2024 and winning in nearby Surrey-Cloverdale that year.

But Sturko was ejected from the Conservatives by former party leader John Rustad, who cited the need for caucus unity.

Sturko sat as an Independent before announcing in September that she was joining CentreBC, along with seven other Conservatives defectors.

All except Sturko went back to the Conservatives just days later, after Kerry-Lynn Findlay quit as leader and was replaced by interim leader Lorne Doerkson ahead of the provincial election. 

Sturko stayed on and became leader of CentreBC, which she has described as socially progressive and fiscally responsible.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2026.

By Chuck Chiang | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.