Vancouver Liberals add two city councillor candidates for 2026 election | Daily Hive

Michael Wu (left) and Jessica Walton (right). (Vancouver Liberals)

The Vancouver Liberals civic party have added two city councillor candidates to their October 2026 municipal election roster.

Michael Wu, an entrepreneur and longtime RCMP auxiliary constable, and Jessica Walton, a political strategist and government copywriter, are the latest additions to the new party.

“The government must encourage and inspire our next generation to flourish,” said Wu, who has spent 17 years in his volunteer-based role with the RCMP. “We need good, transparent policy that supports the needs of all Vancouverites and is rooted in addressing problems and supporting citizens.”

As for Walton, she has worked for Elections BC and run campaigns for the federal New Democratic Party.

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“I’ve seen how hard it is for people to pay attention to politics when they’re struggling just to pay rent,” said Walton.

“We need more advocates for working people like myself at city hall to make services and information more accessible, and less centred on partisan disputes. I’ve been watching this election closely and Kareem Allam and the Vancouver Liberals best represent these values.”

Walton has been outspoken about the need for more childcare and neighbourhood services and improved accessibility. It was shared by the party that she is currently pregnant.

Furthermore, Walton describes herself as a “feminist, a socialist, an environmentalist, and a disabilities advocate.” She first entered politics as a student organizer.

The Vancouver Liberals are being led by mayoral candidate Kareem Allam, who is framing the party as an alternative to what he describes as entrenched political dynamics at Vancouver City Hall.

“Michael’s community leadership as a small business owner and as an RCMP Auxiliary Constable give him great insight into what kinds of issues people face every day,” said Allam, who is a political strategist and managed successful campaigns such as Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC Vancouver party’s 2022 civic election campaign and Kevin Falcon’s BC Liberals leadership race. Allam was also briefly the chief of staff for Sim’s Mayor’s Office.

“The Vancouver Liberals are bringing together a diverse team committed to having a safe and vibrant city where everyone can thrive, and Michael shares that vision of thoughtful policy and collaboration to make that happen,” continued Allam.

On Walton, Allam said: “Jessica’s leadership on issues relating to working people is what we need on the Vancouver Liberals team. We need someone who has the lived experience that Jessica does, who will help lead policy decisions, and ensure equity-deserving groups are no longer left out of decision making — and has a track record of delivering.”

On the political spectrum, the Vancouver Liberals are being positioned as a centrist party, and they are not affiliated with the provincial and federal parties of the same name.

Three sitting elected officials who were formerly with the ABC party have also joined the Vancouver Liberals, including Scott Jensen, who will seek re-election in the Vancouver Park Board, and Vancouver School Board trustee Victoria Jung, who will seek election in Vancouver City Council. Brennan Bastyovanszky has yet to indicate whether he will run for City Council or seek re-election as a Park Board commissioner.

Meanwhile, in Surrey’s municipal election race, Surrey First city council candidate Taj Sandhu withdrew his candidacy today after designating his Port Coquitlam residence, rather than his Surrey property, as his primary home — a move that raised concerns among some residents. Sandhu said stepping down would prevent the issue from distracting the campaign, despite his long-standing business and community ties to Surrey.

Surrey First mayoral candidate and sitting city councillor Linda Annis called the decision difficult but emphasized the party’s commitment to candidates who live in the city, adding that a replacement candidate will be announced soon.

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