In the wake of Abbotsford MP Ed Fast’s announcement that he is retiring from federal politics, his executive assistant will now seek the nomination to be the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate in the Abbotsford-South Langley riding.
Mike Murray announced Monday (March 18) that he is putting his name forward for the nomination. Fast, the riding’s MP for the last 18 years, said on March 14 that he will not seek re-election in October 2025.
Murray became Fast’s executive assistant following the 2015 federal election. In 2018, he took a year off from Canadian politics and went to London, England to work as a national area campaign director for the British Conservatives.
In 2019, he returned to his role with Fast and also managed Fast’s re-election campaigns in 2019 and 2021.
Murray said he believes Canada is in decline and “needs a way forward.”
“Freedom is on the ballot in our next election. We need a new conservative agenda that champions the great Canadian comeback. Canada needs a common-sense conservative leader like Pierre Poilievre to be our next prime minister,” he said.
Murray first became involved in conservative politics in 1984 and served as the president of the youth wing in Richmond–South Delta.
RELATED: Abbotsford MP Ed Fast to retire from federal politics
He was involved in various campaigns in his early years before pursuing his education and career. After graduating from Summit Pacific College in Abbotsford, he served as a pastor until 2010.
In 2010, Murray became a constituency assistant to MLA Marc Dalton in Maple Ridge–Mission.
The following year, he joined the team of MP Randy Kamp in Ottawa as an assistant to the parliamentary secretary to the minister of fisheries and oceans. He then returned to the constituency as the executive assistant to Kamp until 2015.
In 2015, he was Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s candidate for Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge.
Murray said his 13 years working with Kamp and Fast means he is familiar with the “demanding work” of an MP.
“I have listened to the concerns and helped thousands of constituents along this journey. I love people, I am eager to serve, and I am more than ready to serve the constituents of Abbotsford–South Langley,” he said.
Murray said he is compassionate by nature and will be “laser-focused on building up non-profits and volunteerism” in local communities.
He and his wife, Yvonne, live in Abbotsford and have three daughters, three sons-in-law, and five grandsons.
More information is available at www.mikemurray.ca.
No other candidates have yet announced that they are seeking the nomination for Abbotsford-South Langley.
Current Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong, who announced he will not seek re-election in the next provincial election, has said he has been approached by the Conservative Party of Canada to run as a candidate, but has not yet made a decision.
RELATED: Abbotsford MLA Mike de Jong to retire from provincial politics