While a pair of candidates from the Interior are vying for the Liberal and NDP leadership races, chances are the next premier and Opposition leader will be from the Lower Mainland or Victoria.
There has only been one premier from northern B.C. in the past 100 years - Duff Patullo from Prince Rupert, who led the province in the depression-era 1930s. (Dan Miller, also from Prince Rupert, was NDP premier briefly a decade ago, but it was an interim position after Clark resigned.)
So, why such a dearth of candidates for the premier's office from outside the Lower Mainland, and none from northern B.C.?
Former NDP cabinet minister Lois Boone, a Prince George resident, contends there are certainly capable people from outside the Lower Mainland.
However, she said, the position of leader demands a commitment that includes meeting with caucus, individual MLAs, government officials, unions leaders, business interests and community representatives frequently.
"That's very difficult when you live outside of the Lower Mainland," said Boone, who is a federal NDP candidate in a byelection in the riding of Prince George-Peace River, which has not been called yet.
She said she believes that is a big consideration for anyone from outside the Lower Mainland contemplating a run at the premiership. There are also issues of quality of life, as you will be spending a lot of time away from your family, said Boone.
UNBC political scientist Jason Morris reasons that because the North has traditionally been a place where people are getting their "hands dirty" in the natural resource sector, their thoughts are not tuned to politics as much as they might be in more populous power centres.
"We're not not so naturally set to be pointing fingers in question period," he said, referring to the business of the legislature.
But there is recognition in the leadership campaigns that the North, and other rural areas outside of the Lower Mainland and Victoria, are important.
Morris cited Liberal leadership Christy Clark's promise of regional town halls and Kevin Falcon's pledge to open a premier's office in Prince George.
Even if it is difficult for northerners to bridge the premier's office - because of issues like name recognition and a need for a wide-based organizing campaign - the North and its rich natural resources cannot be ignored, says Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad.
Rustad, whose riding is just west of Prince George, has already endorsed George Abbott for the Liberal leadership because Abbott is familiar with resource-based issues. Abbott is from Sicamous in the Southern Interior.
The other declared candidate in the leadership races from outside the Lower Mainland is NDP contender Harry Lali from Merritt, also in the Southern Interior.
