New Vancouver mayor poll shows Pete Fry ahead of Ken Sim, but many voters remain undecided as the October election race takes shape.
Fry Takes Early Lead as Vancouver Race Heats Up
A new Vancouver mayoral poll has added fresh energy to the city’s upcoming election race. The survey shows Green Party Coun. Pete Fry narrowly ahead of Mayor Ken Sim, while a large group of voters has yet to choose a candidate.
According to the Pallas Data poll, 18 per cent of eligible voters say they would support Fry in the mayoral race. Meanwhile, 14 per cent say they would vote for Sim as he seeks another term.
However, the numbers also reveal a key challenge for every candidate: 34 per cent of voters remain undecided. Therefore, the race could shift quickly before voters head to the polls in October.
Sim Faces Questions Over Mayoral Performance
The poll also highlights growing concerns about Sim’s time at city hall. Overall, more voters say they disapprove of his performance than approve of it.
Nearly half of respondents, or 48 per cent, say they disapprove of Sim’s work as mayor. In comparison, 28 per cent approve, while 24 per cent are neutral or unsure.
Furthermore, the strongest negative response came from voters who said they “strongly disapprove” of Sim’s performance. That group accounted for 34 per cent of respondents. By contrast, only eight per cent said they “strongly approve.”
Other Candidates Remain in the Race
Although Fry and Sim lead the early poll numbers, other candidates are also attracting support.
Former Sim chief of staff Kareem Allam, who is running as a Vancouver Liberal candidate, received 12 per cent support. Meanwhile, former city councillor Colleen Hardwick of TEAM Vancouver recorded 10 per cent.
Because more than one-third of voters remain undecided, these candidates still have opportunities to gain ground. In addition, those currently below 10 per cent support could still build momentum during the campaign.
Poll Results Come With Important Limits
The survey offers an early look at voter opinions, but its results should be viewed carefully. The poll included 312 Vancouver adults who are eligible to vote in municipal elections.
Pallas Data conducted the survey from July 20 to July 24 using automated phone calls. Both cellphone and landline numbers were included.
However, the sample size creates a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. As a result, the gap between candidates may be smaller or larger than the numbers suggest.
The survey also included a higher share of older voters. Of the respondents, 161 were aged 65 or older, while 90 were between 35 and 64 and 61 were between 18 and 34. The results were adjusted using 2021 census data for age, gender and region.
October Election Race Remains Wide Open
While Fry currently holds a slight lead, the Vancouver mayoral contest is far from decided. With many voters still weighing their options, every candidate has room to gain support.
The poll was commissioned by the Conservative Electors Association, a municipal political group preparing candidates for local elections across British Columbia this fall.
As the campaign continues, voter priorities, debates and new announcements could play a major role in shaping the final result.
