Long-time British Columbia politician Mike de Jong has expressed his disappointment after the federal Conservative Party rejected his candidacy for the Abbotsford-South Langley riding. Announcing the news on March 4, 2025, De Jong shared the details of this surprising decision on his social media platform. He stated he was 'informally advised' on March 3, 2025, and described the overall experience as quite puzzling.
"To be told you're not worthy or not qualified even to be on the ballot again, it's kind of puzzling and disappointing," de Jong stated, highlighting the uproar of emotions sparked by the decision. The veteran politician, who served for over thirty years as MLA for what is now known as B.C. United, was positioned highly for the Conservative nomination due to significant backing from local supporters. He reiterated the commitment of his campaign volunteers, who had prepared for the nomination for nearly twelve months.
The rejection came as quite the surprise for de Jong, who had launched his campaign following his announcement of retiring from provincial politics made back in February 2024. This unexpected news was delivered bluntly via email, and de Jong expressed confusion about the lack of detailed reasoning behind the rejection of his application. "At the last minute, to be told, in a three line email: 'Application declined. Thanks for your interest. And by the way, we don't think you're qualified.' Yeah, that's a little hard to understand," he said during his interview.
Despite receiving unanimous support from the local Electoral District Candidate Selection Committee, who recognized his qualifications and longstanding roots within the community, De Jong was still told he would not be allowed to compete for the candidacy. "This decision... is disappointing – not just for me, but thousands of Conservative members who signed up to support my candidacy and were prepared to cast their vote for me this weekend," he expressed.
Throughout his extensive political career, de Jong held several significant positions, including finance minister and attorney general within the B.C. Liberal government under both Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. With eight successful terms under his belt, he laid claim to vast experience and knowledge of the legislative process. Many of his policy positions appeared to align with those of the Conservative Party—a view he had thought would strengthen his case for candidacy.
With thousands of local people articulately championing his return to politics, de Jong remarked, "The fact local people, thousands of whom have articulated their support for me, won't get a chance... is obviously disappointing enough for me, and disappointing for them." His efforts to gain support appeared tangible, as he mentioned having brought more than 2,000 party members on board during his campaign.
The nomination vote is slated to take place on March 8, 2025, as fellow candidates continue to vie for the chance to represent the party. Notably, Shanjeelin Dwivedi, Mike Murray, Steve Schafer, Sukhman Singh Gill, and Gurnoor Sidhu have already declared their intentions to run. This race follows the retirement announcement of the long-serving Conservative MP Ed Fast, leaving the newly defined Abbotsford-South Langley riding open for contest.
De Jong also highlighted his disappointment with the party's allocation of the nomination process, feeling sidelined after his years of dedicated service. "It’s difficult to comprehend how I would not be deemed worthy of having my name on the ballot," he pointedly stated.
Since entering federal politics after voting for Pierre Poilievre during the Conservative leadership race, de Jong had avoided affiliations with federal parties for over forty years. His political shifts seem to align closely with broader trends among former provincial members, indicating strife between local support and centralized party authority. Despite this rejection, De Jong's commitment to his community is evident, and he remains uncertain about the future.
Reflecting upon the future, De Jong stated, "I’m not sure how I feel today about ratifying a process I don’t see as legitimate any longer." His remarks expose concerns over the party’s approach to candidate selection, and whether this resonates with the wishes of their grassroot members.
With the next federal general election set for October 2025, yet many anticipate it could occur sooner, the political tension surrounding this nomination process is palpable. Whether the Conservative Party can successfully navigate internal divisions remains to be seen as members prepare to cast their votes and rally behind their next representative.