In the Rockingham by-election, which will determine who will occupy the seat that Mark McGowan, a former Western Australian premier, occupied for 27 years, voting has begun.
Premier Roger Cook anticipates a close contest despite the Labour government’s 37.7% majority in the seat.
Both McGowan and Cook went out on the campaign trail today to support Magenta Marshall, who is expected to keep the state’s safest Labour seat.
Following McGowan’s announcement that he will resign from the state’s top position in May due to “exhaustion” from guiding the state through a number of obstacles, including the pandemic, the by-election will also serve as a test of Cook’s leadership abilities.
McGowan was a well-liked governor, and the most recent election saw a dramatic increase in his popularity rating.
But independent candidate Hayley Edwards, who lost the ALP preselection but is well-liked by locals as the deputy mayor of Rockingham, might persuade Labour voters.
Peter Hudson, a 21-year-old small company entrepreneur running as the Liberal candidate in the by-election, has the enormous job of turning the seat blue.
Other contenders include independent Clive Galletly, independent Peter D Dunne, Madeleine De Jong of the Green Party, Rae Cottam of the Legalise Cannabis Western Australia Party, and Mike Crichton of the Australian Christians.
Voting is open till 6 p.m. (AWST) at 10 locations throughout the electorate.
The votes of thousands of electors have already been cast at early voting locations and by mail.
