With over a third of voters undecided, Fry emerges as Sim's clear challenger heading into fall

VANCOUVER, B.C., August 4, 2026 — With Vancouver's mayoral election less than two months away, new polling shows the race increasingly shaping up as a contest between Ken Sim and Pete Fry, and Fry is holding his own against the incumbent.

A Pallas Data survey released July 30 has Fry actually leading Sim, 18% to 14%, with 34% of voters still undecided. A second poll from Research Co. puts Sim ahead among all likely voters at 22%, with Fry as his closest competitor at 14%.

Two independent polls, two different methodologies, one consistent story: this is a two-person race, and it's closer than Ken Sim would like.

The favourability numbers make the case even more clear. Research Co. found Fry's favourability at 45%, six points higher than Sim's 39%. The Green Party of Vancouver also posted the highest positive rating of any party in the survey, at 51%. This a sign that voters aren't just weighing candidates, they're weighing whether Sim's brand of City Hall has earned another term.

“Voters are telling us this is becoming a clear choice between two visions for Vancouver,” said Green Party of Vancouver Executive Director Nick Poppell. “Ken Sim has had nearly four years to show us his vision for the city. Vancouverites are deciding whether it’s working for them, and increasingly, they’re looking to Pete Fry as their choice for mayor.”

Fry brings eight years of Council experience to the race and a record of pushing hard questions, building cross-party coalitions, and staying rooted in neighbourhood advocacy, in contrast to a mayor voters increasingly rate below him on trust.

With voting day set for October 17, the campaign says the numbers reflect what organizers are already hearing at the doors. "This isn't a crowded, anyone's-game election," said Poppell. "It's a real contest between Ken Sim's status quo and Pete Fry's alternative, and Vancouver is paying attention."

Pallas Data
Research Co