2017 Cootamundra state by-election

A by-election was held in the state electoral district of Cootamundra on 14 October 2017. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Katrina Hodgkinson (National).[1] The by-election was won by Steph Cooke for the National Party on preferences. The Nationals suffered a 20% swing on first preference votes and 10% on a two-party basis.

2017 Cootamundra state by-election

14 October 2017
  First party Second party Third party
 
SFF
Candidate Steph Cooke Charlie Sheahan Matthew Stadtmiller
Party National Labor SFF
Popular vote 21,093 10,930 10,621
Percentage 46.2% 24.0% 23.3%
Swing Decrease19.6pp Decrease2.0pp Increase23.3pp
TPP 60.5% 39.5%
TPP swing Decrease10.0pp Increase10.0pp

MP before election

Katrina Hodgkinson
National

Elected MP

Steph Cooke
National

The by-election was held on the same day as by-elections in Blacktown and Murray.

Candidates

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The candidates in ballot paper order are as follows:[2]

Candidate nominations
Party Candidate Notes (not on ballot paper)
  Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Philip Langfield
  Greens NSW Jeffrey Passlow Formerly chief hospital pathology scientist and then a businessman, veteran environmentalist. Retired to a farm where he now raises boar goats and Wiltshire Horn sheep. He is an advocate for marriage equality and a transition to renewable energy.
  Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Matthew Stadtmiller Newspaper proprietor, former councillor and council candidate.
  Independent Jim Saleam Veteran anti-immigration activist and president of the Australia First Party, is standing as an Independent as the party is not registered for state elections.[3]
  Country Labor Charlie Sheahan Councillor on Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and farm manager who will seek to capitalise on opposition to forced council mergers in New South Wales.[4]
  The Nationals Steph Cooke Businesswoman and 2017 NSW Florist of the Year.

Results

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2017 Cootamundra by-election
Saturday 14 October [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Steph Cooke 21,093 46.2 −19.6
Labor Charlie Sheahan 10,930 24.0 −2.0
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Matthew Stadtmiller 10,621 23.3 +23.3
Christian Democrats Philip Langfield 1,273 2.8 +0.5
Greens Jeffrey Passlow 1,238 2.7 −0.8
Ind. Australia First Jim Saleam 453 1.0 +1.0
Total formal votes 45,608 97.7 +0.4
Informal votes 1,057 2.3 −0.4
Turnout 46,665 87.2 −4.7
Two-party-preferred result
National Steph Cooke 24,114 60.5 −10.0
Labor Charlie Sheahan 15,769 39.5 +10.0
National hold Swing −10.0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Green, Antony. "Cootamundra by-election". ABC News. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  2. ^ "List of Nominated Candidates". Electoral Commission NSW. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  3. ^ Grey, Lachlan (27 August 2017). "Australia First leader Jim Saleam to contest Cootamundra by-election in November". Cootamundra Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  4. ^ Lees, Jennette (15 September 2017). "Charlie Sheahan puts hand up for seat of Cootamundra". Cootamundra Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ "First Preference Votes Report Parliamentary Election: Cootamundra". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. ^ "State Electoral District of Cootamundra: Distribution of Preferences". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
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