Surrey mayor leads in new poll, but large number still undecided

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has a distinct lead over the other mayoral candidates in the upcoming civic election, according to a new poll, but there are still a large number of undecided voters.

A Leger poll released late last week asked voters that if the vote was held at the time of them being questioned, which candidate would they vote for.

Locke had 24% support, well ahead of Doug McCallum at 12%. Tied in third place were Mike Starchuk and Linda Annis at 7%, followed by Honveer Randhawa at 6%. 

A whopping 34%, however, remain undecided, according to Leger, although Locke had a 50% approval rating. The current council had a 40% approval rating.

According to the poll, 48% of respondents felt the city was going in the “wrong direction” with 42% saying the city was headed in the “right direction.”

And, finally, 64% of those polled said it was “time for a change” in city council.

This online survey was conducted from September 23 to 30, 2026, among 1,207 regional residents aged 18 or older, randomly recruited through Leger’s panel, with additional targeted sampling in municipalities across the region. Results were weighted according to age, gender, region and education. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,207 respondents would have a margin of error of no greater than ±2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Cost of living and affordability outside of housing is now the leading issue across Metro Vancouver, according to the results, selected as a top-three concern by 47% of residents. It ranks ahead of housing affordability (34%), property taxes and spending (27%) and homelessness, poverty and mental health (26%). 

“The findings also point to expanding expectations of what municipal governments should do,” said a Leger statement. “Even on issues that traditionally extend beyond local jurisdiction, residents want cities to play a larger role. Seventy per cent, for example, want municipalities more involved in advocating for resources or improving relationships with other levels of government.”

Half of Metro Vancouver residents say they are 100% certain they will vote in the upcoming municipal election, but likelihood to vote varies sharply by age. Just 35% of residents aged 18 to 34 say they are certain to cast a ballot, compared with 64% of those aged 55 and older. 

• 57% of Metro Vancouver residents say it is time for a change in city council, rising to 66% in Richmond, 64% in Surrey and 62% in Vancouver.
• Cost of living and affordability is the top municipal issue, cited among the top three concerns by 47% of residents. Housing affordability follows at 34%.
• Three-quarters or more want municipalities to be more involved in homelessness, poverty and mental health (77%), cost of living (76%), housing affordability (75%) and the drug and overdose crisis (74%).
• The mayoral races remain highly fluid. Pete Fry leads Ken Sim 23% to 19% in Vancouver, while Brenda Locke leads Doug McCallum 24% to 12% in Surrey. Still, 36% of Vancouver voters and 34% of Surrey voters remain undecided