Former B.C. MLA Mike de Jong fails election bid as Independent

Former B.C. United cabinet minister Mike De Jong has lost his first run at federal politics.

Mike de Jong, a longtime B.C. MLA who ran as an Independent after being rejected by the Conservatives during the nomination period, failed to capture the seat in his riding of Abbotsford-South Langley.

The CTV News Decision Desk declared Sukhman Gill –the 25-year-old blueberry farmer and businessman who ultimately ran for the Conservatives – has won the election. Gill captured 44 per cent of the vote as of 10:30 p.m., with 90 per cent of polls reporting.

The Liberal candidate Kevin Gillies came in second place with 32 per cent while de Jong received 17.9 per cent of the vote.

The former provincial cabinet minister initially sought Conservative candidacy but the party disqualified him from the selection process, he said, without any explanation.

Read more: Outgoing Conservative MP Ed Fast slams ‘sham’ process to replace him in longtime riding

The snubbing happened more than a year after de Jong announced he wouldn’t be seeking re-election provincially after 30 years in the legislature to instead enter the race for Ottawa.

Outgoing Conservative MP for the riding Ed Fast – who did not seek re-election after holding the seat for nearly two decades – endorsed de Jong and said his party held a “sham” nomination process that was “hijacked by party officials.”

“To defend a principle, to stand up for something that you believe in is a pretty noble endeavour, and each one of you here today, as disappointed as I expect you are, must take a moment to feel pride in the fact that  you stood up for several principles,” de Jong told supporters after the loss.

“The idea that local folks should be the people that decide on who are candidates in elections is an important principle in our democracy and we made that statement.”

Speaking to CTV News, de Jong acknowledged how difficult it is to defeat a party brand and win a seat as an Independent candidate. He offered his congratulations to newcomer MP Gill, but also called on him to rise to the challenge.

“He was a candidate who chose not to engage at all with the voters and other candidates,” de Jong said. “He will need to stand up and represent the interests of Abbotsford-South Langley and that is not a role for someone to shrink from.”

Asked if he will continue on in politics after decades in the legislature, referencing how he went door knocking on horseback during his campaign, de Jong said, “It’s probably time to ride off into the sunset and try other things.”

With files from CTVNews.ca’s Spencer Van Dyk