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B.C. Premier Christy Clark announces that she will run in a by-election in West Kelowna.Brian Sprout/The Globe and Mail

B.C. Premier Christy Clark is heading to the Okanagan to start her campaign to get a seat in the provincial legislature.

On Wednesday, she announced a by-election will be held on July 10 in the riding of Westside-Kelowna. The vote comes after MLA Ben Stewart stepped aside to create the vacancy in what is considered a very safe Liberal riding.

The Premier said she plans to be doing a lot of door knocking.

"In 28 days we will have election day, when people will be choosing their next MLA," she said. "And Ben Stewart is going to be my campaign chair and he will be beside me the whole time during the by-election. I think people who know he served them so well over the years will be pleased to know that."

While the Liberal Party won the election last month, Ms. Clark lost her seat to New Democrat David Eby in Vancouver-Point Grey. The Premier said she will be a presence in the Okanagan community.

"I will be establishing a secondary residence there, but people know I haven't made my home there all my life. It is so important for me to hear people, understand what the issues are, so that I can take those concerns to Victoria."

The New Democrat Party announced Tuesday that elementary school teacher Carole Gordon, who has lived in Kelowna for 40 years, will run against Ms. Clark.

The Conservatives announced earlier this week that Realtor Sean Upshaw would be running for the party in the by-election.

The Green party will not be fielding a candidate.

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