1972 British Columbia general election

The 1972 British Columbia general election was held on August 30. Dave Barrett's New Democratic Party won a majority of seats and W. A. C. Bennett's Social Credit Party formed the opposition.

1972 British Columbia general election

← 1969 August 30, 1972 1975 →
← 29th Parliament of British Columbia#Members of the 29th General Assembly
30th Parliament of British Columbia#Members of the 30th General Assembly →

55 seats to the 30th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
28 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
NDP
Leader Dave Barrett W. A. C. Bennett
Party New Democratic Social Credit
Leader's seat Coquitlam South Okanagan
Last election 12 seats, 33.92% 38 seats, 46.79%
Seats won 38 10
Seat change Increase 26 Decrease 28
Popular vote 448,260 352,776
Percentage 39.59% 31.16%
Swing Increase 5.67pp Decrease 15.63pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
PC
Leader David Anderson Derril Thomas Warren
Party Liberal Progressive Conservative
Leader's seat Victoria Ran in North Vancouver-Seymour (lost)
Last election 5 seats, 19.03% 0 seats, 0.11%
Seats won 5 2
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 2
Popular vote 185,640 143,450
Percentage 16.40% 12.67%
Swing Decrease 2.63pp Increase12.56pp

Premier before election

W. A. C. Bennett
Social Credit

Premier after election

Dave Barrett
New Democratic