Stephanie Allen from the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) has withdrawn from Vancouver’s mayoral race.
Allen said Wednesday that her decision was part of a strategy to limit the number of progressive options in a crowded field of candidates looking to unseat Mayor Ken Sim.
“Earlier this year, COPE and progressive parties struck an agreement … We have come to the moment where we at COPE have made our decision,” she told members of the press gathered outside Vancouver City Hall.
“It is mission critical to have one [mayoral candidate] on the progressive side and it must be the person in the best position, at this critical hour, to win the election.
“We will not put our egos ahead of doing the right thing for Vancouver.”
COPE’s Stephanie Allen announces the end of her mayoral campaign during a news conference outside Vancouver City Hall on Sept. 2, 2026. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Allen, who is the co-founder of the Hogan’s Alley Society and former B.C. Housing vice-president, was officially endorsed by the party in May.
Allen has not endorsed either of two remaining self-described progressive parties – the Greens and OneCity – with COPE members telling CBC News it was their understanding that doing so would violate Elections B.C. rules.
“We’re going to follow Elections B.C. law. We’re not going to violate that,” Allen said.
Coun. Pete Fry with the Green Party of Vancouver is running for mayor in the upcoming municipal election. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Fry declares he is ‘in it to win it’
Polls conducted by two different organizations in July and August suggested Green candidate Pete Fry was well ahead of both Allen and OneCity mayoral candidate William Azaroff.
Following Allen’s announcement, Fry said he was “100 per cent in it to win it” and that he and Azaroff were scheduled to have a conversation soon.
“I think there’s a strong recognition that things are definitely moving in my favour as far as public favourability and polling results, and just word on the street,” Fry said.
“I have a lot of respect for William but we need to get on with business. We need to get on with taking out Ken Sim.”
OneCity mayoral candidate William Azaroff says there is still time for negotiations ahead of the Sept. 11 mayoral candidate registration deadline. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
At his own press conference later in the day, Azaroff said he was disappointed in the comments.
“Pete and I are planning to go for a walk and chat tomorrow. There are conversations still to take place and for Pete to circumvent all that and make that statement, I find that disappointing.”
He said there is still plenty of time for negotiations to happen ahead of the Sept. 11 deadline.
“We know what’s best for Vancouver is not to split the vote among progressives … I’m looking forward for our negotiations to continue and giving the process its due.”