Vancouver progressives weigh a single challenger ahead of the mayoral vote

Vancouver’s selfdescribed progressive parties are still trying to decide whether to unite behind one mayoral challenger in the city’s upcoming election. The discussion comes after Stephanie Allen stepped down as the Coalition of Progressive Electors’ mayoral nominee, leaving Pete Fry of the Greens and William Azaroff of OneCity as the remaining candidates under a spring agreement to avoid splitting the vote. Fry says his stronger polling, name recognition, and record in city politics make him the best option to challenge Mayor Ken Sim and ABC Vancouver. Azaroff argues that OneCity’s fundraising and party organization give it a better chance of building a winning campaign, even though his own public poll numbers have stayed low. Supporters of both candidates disagree on which contender is more likely to attract voters beyond their core base. Fry’s critics say he has been too cautious on housing and other major issues, while his backers say his experience gives him the strongest platform. With the ballot deadline approaching, the effort to settle on one progressive candidate remains uncertain.