PRE-POLLING results in Wangaratta were in favour of Independent incumbent Helen Haines who polled 5777, some 1647 votes ahead of nearest rival Liberal James Trenery on 4130.
It was a trend that would unfold on election day with Dr Haines winning eight of the 11 polling places in the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Dr Haines also polled well in the pre-poll in Wodonga with 4711 votes, 1000 ahead of Mr Trenery (3711) who lives in the town.
The two top candidates’ first preference votes had Dr Haines win Eldorado 128-53, Glenrowan 222-162, Springhurst 83-77, Tarrawingee 163-133, Wangaratta Cathedral 403-194, West End 655-297, Whitfield 95-75, and Yarrunga 393-198.
Mr Trenery took the honours at Milawa 184-162, Moyhu 161-139, and Whorouly 141-96.
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Looking at the pre-polls, Labor candidate Mitch Bridges placed third on first preference votes with 4130, followed by One Nation - Athol Thomas 581, Greens - Alysia Regan 271, Legalise Cannabis - Ben Howman, Independent – Mark McFarlane 251, Family First – Michael White 205, and Libertarian – Tim Quilty 176.
On election day Dr Haines finished with the most first preference votes with 2376, Mr Trenery was second with 1542, Mr Thomas was third with 581, followed by Mr Bridges 338, Mr Howman 195, Ms Regan 176, Mr McFarlane 146, Mr White 121, and Mr Quilty 73.
Overall Dr Haines had 52,515 two-candidate-preferred (after preferences were distributed) votes of 58.49pc, 15,245 votes ahead of Mr Trenery who accumulated 37,270 or 41.51pc.
The absence of a The Nationals candidate this election has presented another element to the results which needs to be factored in.
In 2022, The Nationals candidate Liz Fisher had 3854 first preference votes or 3.79pc of the count.
This election there was a -0.45pc swing against Dr Haines on the two-candidate-preferred but a 2.35pc swing in her favour on first preference votes.
For Mr Trenery there was a +0.45 per cent swing in his favour compared to former Liberal Indi candidate Ross Lyman in the 2022 election.
On first preference votes, the returned Independent scored 38,637 or 43.03pc, a +2.35pc swing.
For Mr Trenery he scored 27,851pc, a swing of +0.50.
Others included Labor 7186 or 8pc (-0.59pc), One Nation 6233 or 6.94pc (+1.66pc), The Greens 2943 or 3.28 (-0.29pc), Legalise Cannabis 2622 or 2.92pc, Family First 1601 or 1.78, Libertarian 1445 or 1.61pc, and Independent 1268 or 1.41pc.
According to the AEC tally room, across Victoria progressive figures show the Australian Labor Party leading 24 seats, Liberal 3, The Nationals 4, and Independents 2.
Close Victorian seats include Bendigo held by (Labor), Menzies (Liberal), Goldstein (Ind), Kooyong (Ind), Wills (Labor), La Trobe (Liberal), and Casey (Liberal).
