2023 Rockingham state by-election

2023 Rockingham state by-election
← 2021 29 July 2023 2025 →
Electoral district of Rockingham in the
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party Third party
 
IND
Candidate Magenta Marshall Peter Hudson Hayley Edwards
Party Labor Liberal Independent
Popular vote 10,791 3,868 3,488
Percentage 49.33% 17.73% 15.95%
Swing Decrease 33.42 Increase 7.91 Increase 15.95
TCP 61.37 38.63%
TCP swing Decrease 26.35 Increase 38.63
Map showing the location of the electoral district of Rockingham (dark green) in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
MP before election

Mark McGowan
Labor

Elected MP

Magenta Marshall
Labor

A by-election for the electoral district of Rockingham in Western Australia was held on 29 July 2023, following the resignation of Premier and sitting Labor MP Mark McGowan, on 8 June 2023.[1][2] The writ was issued on the same day.[3]

The two major party candidates for the election were Magenta Marshall for the Australian Labor Party and Peter Hudson for the Liberal Party. Additionally, Hayley Edwards the Deputy Mayor of the City of Rockingham also announced her candidacy.[4] The Greens preselected Madeleine De Jong. There were nine candidates for the seat.[5] Notably, both major parties preselected candidates under the age of 30.[6]

The election was called for Labor at 7:30pm AWST, with Marshall claiming victory for the Labor Party. However, Labor suffered one of the biggest swings against it at a by-election in the state's history: with a swing against them of 33.4% in the primary vote and a swing against of 22.5% in the two-party-preferred vote.[7]

  1. ^ "'I'm tired, extremely tired': Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan steps down". Nine News. 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ Bourke, Keane (8 June 2023). "WA Premier Roger Cook sworn in with new cabinet, forecasting 'remarkable things'". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/state-elections/2023-rockingham-election
  4. ^ "High-profile independent joins race for Rockingham". The West Australian. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. ^ Cross, Hannah (5 July 2023). "Independents hope to make a dent in margin as Rockingham by-election candidates ready for July 29 vote". The West Australian.
  6. ^ "Liberals set to unveil candidate to run for McGowan's seat". The West Australian. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ^ "WA Labor retains former premier Mark McGowan's seat of Rockingham". ABC News. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.