Bruce Banman has been re-elected as the Abbotsford South MLA.
Banman earned 61.93 per cent of the votes for a total of 12,851. He beat out the NDP's Sarah Kooner, who collected 7,232 votes for 34.85 per cent. Independent Amandeep Singh earned 669 votes, good for 3.22 per cent of the vote.
The Abbotsford-Mission, Abbotsford South and Abbotsford West @Conservative_BC candidates await the results here at @LedgeviewGolf. @BlackPressMedia pic.twitter.com/GJ4Ahp0jBJ
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 20, 2024
Banman competed in the 2020 election as a member of the BC Liberal Party, but then joined the Conservative Party of BC in September of 2023. He was the first sitting MLA to join John Rustad in the new party. He reflected on that moment during a speech to supporters following his win.
"I crossed the floor because I felt as if most of us were saying that we no longer have a voice," he said. "I tried within my former party ro relay that message but it fell on deaf ears."
Comments from Banman #BCelection2024 pic.twitter.com/XB8yYeTBWs
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 20, 20
Banman said he's proud of teammates Korky Neufeld and Reann Gasper for winning the Abbotsford West and Abbotsford-Mission ridings respectively.
"They're going to do you proud. There's a shift in this province and people have said loud and clear that we've had enough," he said. "It's time to bring back common sense. We are going to do our best to make sure that we fight for you in Victoria."
He urged supporters present to continue to be real with him and tell him when he's not doing his job.
Banman and Gasper pleased with early results @BlackPressMedia @BruceBanman #BCelection2024 pic.twitter.com/824TllaHhR
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 20, 2024
Banman earned 44 per cent of the vote back in 2020. At the time he was also an Abbotsford city councillor, a role he had held since 2018. He stepped down from council in February 2021 to focus solely on being MLA.
Prior to that, he was mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014.
