British Columbia general election, 1975

British Columbia general election, 1975

December 11, 1975

55 seats of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 28 seats were needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader Bill Bennett Dave Barrett Party Social Credit New Democratic Leader since 1973 1969 Leader's seat South Okanagan Coquitlam (lost re-election) Last election 10 38 Seats won 35 18 Seat change 25 20 Popular vote 635,482 505,396 Percentage 49.25 39.16 Swing 18.09 0.43   Third party Fourth party   Leader Gordon Gibson George Scott Wallace Party Liberal Progressive Conservative Leader since 1975 1973 Leader's seat North Vancouver-Capilano Oak Bay Last election 5 2 Seats won 1 1 Seat change 4 1 Popular vote 93,397 49,796 Percentage 7.24 3.86 Swing 9.16 8.81

Premier before election Dave Barrett New Democratic Premier-designate Bill Bennett Social Credit

The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975. The new legislature met for the first time on March 17, 1976.

The governing New Democratic Party of Dave Barrett was defeated after three years in government. Bill Bennett, son of long-time Social Credit Party leader and BC premier, W.A.C. Bennett, led Social Credit back to power, winning close to half of the popular vote, and a solid majority in the legislature.

Voters abandoned the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties as the centre and right-wing vote coalesced around Social Credit. The defeated social democratic NDP suffered only a marginal decrease in its vote share.

Results

Notes:

* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

x - less than 0.005% of the popular vote

See also

• List of British Columbia political parties

Elections and referendums in British Columbia
General elections	Colony of Vancouver Island 1856 1860 1863 United Colony of British Columbia 1866 1869 Post-Confederation 1871 1875 1878 1882 1886 1890 1894 1898 1900 1903 1907 1909 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1933 1937 1941 1945 1949 1952 1953 1956 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1979 1983 1986 1991 1996 2001 2005 2009 2013 next
By-elections	List of British Columbia by-elections
Referendums	1873 1909 1916 1916 1920 1924 1937 1952 1952 1972 1991 2002 2005 2009 2011