While Summerland voters have tended to choose right-of-centre federal candidates, there have been some notable exceptions over the years.
Most often, Summerland has been represented at the federal level by members of the Conservatives, the Progressive Conservatives, the Social Credit Party, the Reform Party and the Canadian Alliance — all right-leaning political parties.
In 2015, 2019 and 2021, Dan Albas of the Conservative Party was the representative for the riding of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, which included Summerland.
However, the voting patterns have sometimes shifted.
Jack Whittaker of the New Democratic Party was the MP for the former riding of Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt from 1988 until 1993. This Southern Interior riding included Summerland.
Whittaker defeated Progressive Conservative MP Fred King, but in 1993 he was defeated by Jim Hart, then with the Reform Party and later with the Canadian Alliance.
From 1968 until 1972, Bruce Howard of the Liberal Party was the MP for the riding.
From 1948 until 1957, Owen Jones of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation, the forerunner of the New Democratic Party, was the MP for the region.
Going back further, the former Yale—Cariboo riding elected three consecutive Liberal candidates who served from 1896 until 1908.
