John Horgan set to win B.C. NDP leadership race when Mike Farnworth drops out of the race

by Travis Lupick on April 8th, 2014 at 11:50 AM

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Mike Farnworth is dropping out of the leadership race for the provincial NDP.

According to an April 8 media release, the veteran Port Coquitlam MLA is withdrawing his bid to lead the party and officially throwing his support behind John Horgan.

Horgan, MLA for Juan de Fuca, is quoted in the release thanking Farnworth for his endorsement.

"He has done so much for our party and our province,” Horgan said. “I am grateful for his support, and the support of so many members of our caucus, as we build a team that will earn the votes of British Columbians in 2017 and make life better for all B.C. families.”

Earlier in the day, CKNW talk show host Mike Smyth broke the news with a message on Twitter stating that Farnworth decided there is “no point running to lose” in light of key NDP MLAs throwing their support behind Horgan.

News of Farnworth’s withdrawal from the leadership race comes barely a month after he first announced he wanted to lead the NDP.

It’s now all but certain that Horgan will take the top position, despite having placed third in the party’s 2011 leadership contest, behind Farnworth and Adrian Dix.

Dix, MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway, announced he was stepping down as leader of the NPD in September 2013, after losing the last provincial election to Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals.

Comments

2 Comments

Thomas Douglas

Apr 9, 2014 at 10:26am

What difference does it make who the leader of this "loser" party is ?
The BC NDP are just the hacks and lackeys of the unions in BC nothing more nothing less.
The don't care much for the average person, ( just like the BC Liberals).

I mean if one of their own comes out publicly and says he is not renewing his membership with the BC NDP what does that really say? Thank you to Mike Harcourt for coming out.
I think that BC is ready for a new party which encompasses a social conscience, freedom to do business without too many obstacles, a concern for the environment, and a promise not to be beholden to ANY special interests like Howe Street or the Unions.
Lt me know if you want to join by making a comment and saying " YES, I WANT TO JOIN"