2026 Nepean state by-election
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TBD (2026)
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Electoral district of Nepean in the Victorian Legislative Assembly | |||
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A by-election for the electoral district of Nepean in the Victorian Legislative Assembly will be held sometime in 2026, following the resignation of Liberal Party MP Sam Groth.[1]
Background
Sitting Liberal Party MP Sam Groth resigned from representing the electorate nine months out from the 2026 Victorian state election. Groth had one month earlier stepped down as Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberals, saying “The public pressure placed on my family in recent months has been significant and realising that some of it came from within my own party has been difficult to ignore…when you find yourself having to fight against your own team, it becomes impossible to put those interests first.”[2]
The early by-election is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $2 million.[3]
2022 results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Sam Groth | 19,614 | 48.1 | +4.0 | |
| Labor | Chris Brayne | 13,308 | 32.6 | −5.3 | |
| Greens | Esther Gleixner | 3,576 | 8.8 | −2.2 | |
| Freedom | Hank Leine | 980 | 2.4 | +2.4 | |
| Animal Justice | Pamela Engelander | 720 | 1.8 | +1.8 | |
| Family First | Janny Dijkman | 638 | 1.6 | +1.6 | |
| Companions and Pets | Jay Miller | 526 | 1.3 | +1.3 | |
| Independent | Elizabeth Woolcock | 495 | 1.2 | +1.2 | |
| Independent | Charelle Ainslie | 449 | 1.1 | +1.1 | |
| Democratic Labour | Cynthia Skruzny | 369 | 0.9 | +0.9 | |
| Independent | Steve Anger | 91 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
| Total formal votes | 40,766 | 93.7 | −0.9 | ||
| Informal votes | 2,753 | 6.3 | +0.9 | ||
| Turnout | 43,519 | 88.9 | +3.9 | ||
| Two-party-preferred result | |||||
| Liberal | Sam Groth | 22,986 | 56.4 | +7.1 | |
| Labor | Chris Brayne | 17,780 | 43.6 | −7.1 | |
| Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | +7.1 | |||
Candidates
According to a Liberal Party source quoted in Mornington Peninsula News Group, there are six candidates for the still-open party preselection, for which applications close on 16 February.[8] They are Nathan Conroy, who has stood unsuccessfully twice in the federal Division of Dunkley, Briony Camp, who stood in the 2022 election in Hastings, David Burgess, an unsuccessful Legislative Council candidate in 2022, Marty Barr, a former adviser to the Napthine government, as well as Jacquie Blackwell and Alex Screen.[8] The Mornington Peninsula Leader has also reported Anthony Marsh, mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire, as a possible candidate for Liberal preselection.[9]
The group Independents for Mornington Peninsula, which planned to stand a candidate at the 2026 state election, is also inviting expressions of interest for a candidate, with Phil Riley, President of Independents for Mornington Peninsula, stating that they will only stand a candidate "if that person reflects the values and priorities of the community".[10]
References
- ^ Willingham, Richard (4 February 2026). "Former deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth quits Victorian parliament, triggering Nepean by-election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ Kolovos, Benita (6 January 2026). "Sam Groth to quit Victorian politics after defamation battle with News Corp and internal party divisions". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Deery, Shannon (4 February 2026). "Liberal MP Sam Groth to resign from politics next week, forcing Nepean by-election". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Green, Antony (11 January 2023). "VIC22 – 2-Party Preferred Results and Swings by District". Antony Green's Election Blog. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ VIC 2021 Final Redistribution, ABC News. [Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Nepean District results, Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Full preference distributions – 2022 State election, Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ a b McCullough, Cameron (12 February 2026). "Six vying for Nepean Liberal preselection". Mornington Peninsula News Group. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Callander, Lucy (13 February 2026). "Mornington Peninsula mayor Anthony Marsh in shock U-turn on Nepean by-election bid". Mornington Peninsula Leader. Leader Community Newspapers. Archived from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ McCullough, Nepean (12 February 2026). "'Independents' fast-track Nepean search". Mornington Peninsula News Group. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.