Filipina candidates Lara Honrado and Mable Elmore lead early count in BC election

BC NDP candidate Lara Honrado, bidding to join the BC Legislature as another Filipina MLA, led the early count in Vancouver-South Granville on election night, while Mable Elmore, first elected in 2009 and until now the community's only Filipina MLA, led in Vancouver-Kensington as counting continued.

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Two Filipina BC NDP candidates were leading Elections BC's initial count in their Vancouver ridings on the night of the 24 October provincial election, according to BC Ballot's riding results. Counting was still under way, and neither seat had been called.

In Vancouver-South Granville, Lara Honrado led the initial count ahead of Conservative Lisa Phillips. Philippine Canadian News reported before the vote that her candidacy had been met with enthusiasm in the Filipino community, raising the prospect of electing another Filipina member of the Legislative Assembly. The seat was previously held by the BC NDP's Brenda Bailey, who won it in 2024 with 64% of the vote.

Honrado has more than two decades of senior leadership in public policy and communications. Philippine Canadian News said she is affiliated with the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University as special assistant to Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, co-founded and led the Ouano Foundation, and directed community relations for former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson.

In Vancouver-Kensington, Mable Elmore led the initial count ahead of Conservative Aron Lageri as she sought a fifth consecutive term. Elmore, first elected in 2009, has been the community's only Filipina MLA, according to Philippine Canadian News, and is a long-standing advocate for a dedicated Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver.