Australian Labor Party candidate Kristy McBain has claimed victory in the Eden-Monaro by-election, with 94,000 votes counted and 4,000 left to go.
As at 3pm today, Ms McBain has a lead of 1,000 votes and said, by all metrics, it appeared the Labor Party would hold the marginal seat.
Ms Bain said she was “pleased and honoured” to be elected as the federal member for Eden-Monaro and would work with “anyone and everyone” to achieve outcomes for the electorate.
“This election was fought on local issues first and foremost,” she said.
“It was fought on bushfire recovery, the economic impacts of COVID on the people of Eden-Monaro and it was fought on drought.”
The by-election results were on a knife’s edge for all of Saturday night and around 11.00pm Ms McBain tweeted out a thank-you to her campaign staff and supporters but declared the election was too close to call for the evening.
She claimed victory on Sunday afternoon and said she would work hard for all those who voted for her as well as those who didn’t.
“I’ve been elected to represent the entire electorate,” she said.
“I want to amplify the voices of the people of Eden-Monaro and take those voices to Canberra.”
There were 14 candidates in this by-election.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Matthew Stradtmiller gained a 6% swing for his party, which is growing in popularity in regional Australia.
Michael Balderstone of the Help End Marijuano Prohibition Party (HEMP) gained 3%.
The Nationals’ Trevor Hicks had a swing against him of nearly 1%.
And the Greens candidate Cathy Griff suffered a 3.5 swing against her.
The Australian Labor Party won despite a slight swing against it in the two-party preferred count, which they have attributed to the loss of retiring member Mike Kelly’s personal popularity in the electorate.
Ms McBain said she was very happy with the positive gains in her hometown of Bega.
