Jagmeet Singh Riding 2025 – Burnaby Central Defeat Explained

Jagmeet Singh, who led Canada’s New Democratic Party from 2017 to 2025, saw his political career reach a pivotal turning point during the April 28, 2025 federal election. After six years as party leader and three consecutive electoral victories in the Vancouver area, Singh faced an outcome that would reshape both his personal trajectory and the future of the NDP. Rather than defending his traditional seat, Singh competed in a newly created electoral district following riding boundary changes. The results marked a significant chapter in Canadian federal politics, ending Singh’s tenure as NDP leader and raising questions about the party’s direction.

The election night brought decisive results across the country, with Singh personally experiencing the most consequential shift. Polling in the weeks leading up to the vote had suggested a challenging race, but the magnitude of the outcome surprised many observers. Singh’s third-place finish triggered his announcement that he would step down from the leadership position he had held for nearly eight years.

What Riding Did Jagmeet Singh Run in for the 2025 Election?

For the 2025 federal election, Jagmeet Singh did not run in Burnaby South, the riding he had represented since 2019. Instead, due to electoral boundary changes that took effect for this election cycle, Singh contested the newly created Burnaby Central riding. The redistribution process, which occurs periodically to ensure equal voter representation, transformed the electoral map in this part of Metro Vancouver.

Singh was treated as the incumbent in Burnaby Central, a designation that typically provides certain advantages in name recognition and local engagement. However, the riding’s boundaries differed from his previous electoral district, meaning he needed to rebuild his campaign infrastructure in areas that had not previously been part of his constituency.

2025 Election Overview

Key Points from the 2025 Result

• Singh received 9,353 votes, representing 18.16 percent of the total ballot
• This marked a dramatic swing of minus 21.62 percentage points from his 2021 performance
• He finished behind both Liberal and Conservative candidates in the contest
• Pre-election polling had indicated significant vulnerability for the NDP leader in this race
• The result contributed to the NDP losing official party status in Parliament
• Singh announced his resignation as party leader on election night

Burnaby Central Vote Distribution

How Did Electoral Redistribution Affect Singh’s Riding?

The riding that Singh had represented since 2019, Burnaby South, was eliminated as part of the redistribution process that preceded the 2025 election. This electoral district had served as an NDP stronghold for 25 years before Singh’s arrival, with figures like Kennedy Stewart maintaining the party’s hold on this portion of Burnaby.

Burnaby South itself originated from a 2012 redistribution that combined elements of Burnaby-Douglas and Burnaby-New Westminster, two ridings that had long been considered reliable NDP territory. The party had built deep roots in this part of British Columbia over multiple decades, making Singh’s 2025 result all the more striking given the historical patterns.

For the 2025 election, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission created the new Burnaby Central riding. Singh, despite running in a different electoral district, was treated as the incumbent due to his existing profile and six years of work in the broader Burnaby community. This status gave him certain advantages in voter recognition, though the boundary changes meant portions of his previous constituency now fell under different ridings.

Changes to Burnaby Electoral Districts

• Burnaby South was replaced by Burnaby Central for the 2025 election
• Singh was required to establish his campaign in the new riding boundaries
• Parts of the former riding were incorporated into neighbouring districts
• The redistribution affected multiple ridings across Metro Vancouver

What is Jagmeet Singh’s Electoral History?

Before entering federal politics, Singh served as a member of the Ontario legislature, representing the Toronto riding of Brampton—Springdale from 2011 to 2017. His transition to federal politics came after Svend Robinson, Canada’s first openly gay Member of Parliament, retired as the MP for Burnaby—New Westminster. Singh sought the NDP nomination but ultimately chose to run in the adjacent Burnaby South riding after the party selected another candidate for Robinson’s seat.

Singh’s Electoral Results in British Columbia

In the 2019 by-election triggered by Kennedy Stewart’s resignation, Singh announced his candidacy in August 2018 and secured victory in February 2019 with 38.9 percent of the vote. This win elevated his national profile significantly, coming during his second year as NDP leader. He successfully defended the seat later that same year in the October general election, contributing to the NDP’s total of 24 seats across the country.

His strongest performance in the riding came during the 2021 federal election, when Singh received 16,382 votes, representing 40.34 percent of the ballot. This result showed a positive swing of 2.67 percentage points compared to the previous election. He defeated Liberal candidate Brea Huang Sami, who received 12,361 votes, and Conservative Likky Lavji, who garnered 9,104 votes.

Timeline: Key Elections in Singh’s Political Career

1. 2011: Singh elected to Ontario legislature, representing Brampton—Springdale
2. 2017: Elected leader of the New Democratic Party at the party’s federal convention
3. August 2018: Announced candidacy for the Burnaby South by-election
4. February 2019: Won the Burnaby South by-election with 38.9 percent of the vote
5. October 2019: Re-elected in the federal general election
6. September 2021: Re-elected in Burnaby South during the federal election
7. April 2025: Lost in Burnaby Central, finished third, announced resignation as leader

What is Confirmed Versus Unclear About the 2025 Result?

How Did the 2025 Result Impact the NDP?

The April 28, 2025 election marked the worst historical result for the New Democratic Party federally. Beyond losing their long-time leader’s seat, the party was reduced to a position without official status in the House of Commons, significantly diminishing its ability to shape parliamentary proceedings and policy debates.

Singh’s defeat in Burnaby Central represented more than personal disappointment. It symbolized broader challenges facing the federal NDP, which had struggled to maintain its position in British Columbia, a province that had historically provided substantial support. The Liberal breakthrough in this traditionally NDP-friendly area suggested shifting electoral dynamics that would require the party to reassess its strategy.

On election night, Singh described the results as “disappointing” while publicly thanking his supporters, including his wife. He committed to remaining involved until an interim replacement could be named, demonstrating continuity despite the abrupt end to his leadership tenure.

Sources and Political Context

“It’s been a disappointing night,” Singh said on election night, announcing his resignation as party leader pending an interim replacement.

The electoral results were reported by multiple outlets covering the April 28, 2025 federal election, with detailed vote counts available from regional news sources in British Columbia. The NDP’s historical performance data and Singh’s previous electoral results are documented through federal election records and party communications spanning his tenure from 2017 to 2025.

Political analysts pointed to multiple factors that may have contributed to the dramatic shift in Burnaby Central, including the riding’s changed boundaries, evolving voter preferences in Metro Vancouver, and broader national political trends that favoured the Liberal Party during this election cycle.

Summary

Jagmeet Singh concluded his federal electoral career on April 28, 2025, when he placed third in the Burnaby Central riding during the federal election. Rather than defending the Burnaby South seat he had held since 2019, Singh ran in the newly created Burnaby Central district following electoral redistribution. His 9,353 votes represented just 18.16 percent of the ballot, a decline of more than 21 percentage points from his 2021 performance. The result ended his six-year tenure as NDP leader and contributed to the party’s worst federal election showing in its history. Singh immediately announced his resignation, with Don Davies serving as interim leader until Avi Lewis secured the position in March 2026. Mark Carney’s subsequent victory in the Liberal leadership race would shape the political landscape that the NDP now faced as the official opposition.

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