# 2003 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election

The 2003 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election was held on November 23, 2003, to elect a successor to Ujjal Dosanjh as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP). The election was necessary because Dosanjh had left the BC NDP following the party's defeat in the 2001 provincial election; leaving Joy MacPhail as interim leader. Carole James won on the second ballot, defeating Leonard Krog.

## Background

Following the 2001 provincial election, the BC NDP had been reduced from 39 to 2 seats in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Neither of the BC NDP's two MLAs, Jenny Kwan and Joy MacPhail, expressed interest in running for leadership.
The candidates reflected a wide range of ideological positions within the party. Nils Jensen, a municipal councillor from Oak Bay, was a proponent of the centrist Third Way movement. Both Leonard Krog and Steve Orcherton represented more traditional elements of the party, with Orcherton being perceived as the most left-wing candidate on the ballot. James presented a relatively ideologically ambiguous position, neither as centrist as Jensen or leftist as Orcherton, but generally social democratic.

## Candidates
### Peter Dimitrov

Peter Dimitrov was a lawyer from Vancouver.

### Carole James

Carole James was the chair of the Greater Victoria School Board; where she was a trustee from 1990 to 2001. She was also the BC NDP candidate for Victoria-Beacon Hill in the 2001 election, where she had lost by only 35 votes. Before entering politics, she worked as a social worker.
Endorsements
* MPs: (2) Libby Davies (Vancouver East); Svend Robinson (Burnaby—Douglas)
* MLAs: (1) Jenny Kwan (Vancouver-Mount Pleasant)
* Unions: (2) Canadian Union of Public Employees; British Columbia General Employees' Union

### Nils Jensen

Nils Jensen was a member of Oak Bay Municipal Council from 1996 to 2011. Before entering politics, he was a lawyer and professor at the University of Victoria.
Endorsements
* Unions: (2) International Woodworkers of America; United Steelworkers

### Leonard Krog

Leonard Krog was the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Parksville-Qualicum from 1991 to 1996. He was also the BC NDP candidate for Nanaimo in the 2001 election. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer.
Endorsements
* Former leaders: (1) Dave Barrett (1969–1984)

### Mehdi Najari

Mehdi Najari was a book seller from Victoria.

### Steve Orcherton

Steve Orcherton was the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Victoria-Hillside from 1996 to 2001. Before entering politics, he was secretary-treasurer of Victoria Labour Council and a cook.

## Ballot results

First Ballot :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Carole James | 325 | 41.91 |
| Nils Jensen | 169 | 21.81 |
| Leonard Krog | 150 | 19.35 |
| Steve Orcherton | 87 | 11.23 |
| Mehdi Najari | 32 | 4.13 |
| Peter Dimitrov | 12 | 1.55 |
| Total | 775 | 100.00 |
Second Ballot :
| Candidate | Weighted Votes | Percentage | +/- |
| Carole James | 395 | 50.90 | +8.96 |
| Leonard Krog | 219 | 28.22 | +8.87 |
| Nils Jensen | 162 | 20.88 | –0.93 |
| Total | 776 | 100.00 |