Vandermania did its job. In the 1986 election Bob Skelly faced Bill Vander Zalm. After stumbling in a news conference at the opening of the campaign, Skelly fought a good campaign. NDP ads attacking the Social Credit agenda helped regain lost ground, but the swell of support for the new Socred leader proved too much. The 1986 election brought a change in electoral districting with 12 new seats added. As it happened, the Socreds won 12 additional seats for a total of 47 while the NDP stayed steady with 22 seats. Combined, the two parties took 92% of the vote.
The 1986 election brings another loss
