Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won Newcastle in 2025 with 71,244 of the 108,266 votes in the final count, beating Charlotte McCABE (The Greens) by 34,222 votes (65.8% to 34.2%). Claydon led on first preferences with 45.3% of 108,266 formal votes and passed the 54,134-vote majority at count 6.
108,266 formal votes8 candidates6 counts34,222-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 108,266 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Robert CREECH (Independent) was excluded; their 888 votes were distributed: 174 (19.6%) to Jason BRIGGS; 164 (18.5%) to Charlotte McCABE; 156 (17.6%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 122 (13.7%) to Steve O'BRIEN and 3 more.
On count 2, Steve O'BRIEN (Socialist Alliance) was excluded; their 1,778 votes were distributed: 1,119 (62.9%) to Charlotte McCABE; 290 (16.3%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 125 (7.0%) to Jennifer STEFANAC; 99 (5.6%) to Jason BRIGGS and 2 more.
On count 3, Jason BRIGGS (Family First) was excluded; their 2,592 votes were distributed: 911 (35.1%) to Phillip HEYNE; 510 (19.7%) to Asarri McPHEE; 441 (17.0%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 375 (14.5%) to Jennifer STEFANAC and 1 more.
On count 4, Jennifer STEFANAC (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 4,440 votes were distributed: 1,958 (44.1%) to Phillip HEYNE; 1,077 (24.3%) to Charlotte McCABE; 782 (17.6%) to Asarri McPHEE; 623 (14.0%) to Sharon CLAYDON.
On count 5, Phillip HEYNE (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 8,820 votes were distributed: 5,064 (57.4%) to Asarri McPHEE; 1,892 (21.5%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 1,864 (21.1%) to Charlotte McCABE.
On count 6, Asarri McPHEE (Liberal) was excluded; their 27,170 votes were distributed: 18,788 (69.1%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 8,382 (30.9%) to Charlotte McCABE.
Finally, Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won with 71,244 votes to 37,022 for Charlotte McCABE (The Greens).
Where the preferences went
Newcastle 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Robert CREECHIndependent
888
Jason BRIGGS (FFPA): 174 (19.6%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 164 (18.5%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 156 (17.6%)
Steve O'BRIEN (SAL): 122 (13.7%)
Phillip HEYNE (ON): 101 (11.4%)
Asarri McPHEE (LP): 92 (10.4%)
Jennifer STEFANAC (CYA): 79 (8.9%)
2
Steve O'BRIENSocialist Alliance
1,778
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 1,119 (62.9%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 290 (16.3%)
Jennifer STEFANAC (CYA): 125 (7.0%)
Jason BRIGGS (FFPA): 99 (5.6%)
Asarri McPHEE (LP): 84 (4.7%)
Phillip HEYNE (ON): 61 (3.4%)
3
Jason BRIGGSFamily First
2,592
Phillip HEYNE (ON): 911 (35.1%)
Asarri McPHEE (LP): 510 (19.7%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 441 (17.0%)
Jennifer STEFANAC (CYA): 375 (14.5%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 355 (13.7%)
4
Jennifer STEFANACTrumpet of Patriots
4,440
Phillip HEYNE (ON): 1,958 (44.1%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 1,077 (24.3%)
Asarri McPHEE (LP): 782 (17.6%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 623 (14.0%)
5
Phillip HEYNEPauline Hanson's One Nation
8,820
Asarri McPHEE (LP): 5,064 (57.4%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 1,892 (21.5%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 1,864 (21.1%)
6
Asarri McPHEELiberal
27,170
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 18,788 (69.1%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 8,382 (30.9%)
Votes after every count
Newcastle 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
Sharon CLAYDONLabor · elected
49,054
49,210
49,500
49,941
50,564
52,456
71,244
Charlotte McCABEThe Greens
24,061
24,225
25,344
25,699
26,776
28,640
37,022
Asarri McPHEELiberal
20,638
20,730
20,814
21,324
22,106
27,170
–
Phillip HEYNEPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,789
5,890
5,951
6,862
8,820
–
–
Jennifer STEFANACTrumpet of Patriots
3,861
3,940
4,065
4,440
–
–
–
Jason BRIGGSFamily First
2,319
2,493
2,592
–
–
–
–
Steve O'BRIENSocialist Alliance
1,656
1,778
–
–
–
–
–
Robert CREECHIndependent
888
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won Newcastle in 2022 with 71,807 of the 105,627 votes in the final count, beating Katrina WARK (Liberal) by 37,987 votes (68.0% to 32.0%). Claydon led on first preferences with 44.1% of 105,627 formal votes and passed the 52,814-vote majority at count 6.
105,627 formal votes8 candidates6 counts37,987-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 105,627 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Garth PYWELL (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 1,102 votes were distributed: 433 (39.3%) to Charlotte McCABE; 168 (15.2%) to Amanda COOK; 119 (10.8%) to William HUSSEY; 117 (10.6%) to Sharon CLAYDON and 3 more.
On count 2, William HUSSEY (Informed Medical Options Party) was excluded; their 1,259 votes were distributed: 397 (31.5%) to Mark James WATSON; 283 (22.5%) to Emily BROLLO; 193 (15.3%) to Amanda COOK; 161 (12.8%) to Charlotte McCABE and 2 more.
On count 3, Amanda COOK (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 2,878 votes were distributed: 1,479 (51.4%) to Mark James WATSON; 412 (14.3%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 366 (12.7%) to Katrina WARK; 359 (12.5%) to Charlotte McCABE and 1 more.
On count 4, Emily BROLLO (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 3,177 votes were distributed: 1,549 (48.8%) to Charlotte McCABE; 691 (21.8%) to Mark James WATSON; 566 (17.8%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 371 (11.7%) to Katrina WARK.
On count 5, Mark James WATSON (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 7,416 votes were distributed: 3,893 (52.5%) to Katrina WARK; 1,935 (26.1%) to Charlotte McCABE; 1,588 (21.4%) to Sharon CLAYDON.
On count 6, Charlotte McCABE (The Greens) was excluded; their 25,632 votes were distributed: 22,458 (87.6%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 3,174 (12.4%) to Katrina WARK.
Finally, Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won with 71,807 votes to 33,820 for Katrina WARK (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Newcastle 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Garth PYWELLAustralian Federation Party
1,102
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 433 (39.3%)
Amanda COOK (UAPP): 168 (15.2%)
William HUSSEY (IMO): 119 (10.8%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 117 (10.6%)
Mark James WATSON (ON): 92 (8.3%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 90 (8.2%)
Emily BROLLO (AJP): 83 (7.5%)
2
William HUSSEYInformed Medical Options Party
1,259
Mark James WATSON (ON): 397 (31.5%)
Emily BROLLO (AJP): 283 (22.5%)
Amanda COOK (UAPP): 193 (15.3%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 161 (12.8%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 115 (9.1%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 110 (8.7%)
3
Amanda COOKUnited Australia Party
2,878
Mark James WATSON (ON): 1,479 (51.4%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 412 (14.3%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 366 (12.7%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 359 (12.5%)
Emily BROLLO (AJP): 262 (9.1%)
4
Emily BROLLOAnimal Justice Party
3,177
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 1,549 (48.8%)
Mark James WATSON (ON): 691 (21.8%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 566 (17.8%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 371 (11.7%)
5
Mark James WATSONPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,416
Katrina WARK (LP): 3,893 (52.5%)
Charlotte McCABE (GRN): 1,935 (26.1%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 1,588 (21.4%)
6
Charlotte McCABEThe Greens
25,632
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 22,458 (87.6%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 3,174 (12.4%)
Votes after every count
Newcastle 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
Sharon CLAYDONLabor · elected
46,551
46,668
46,783
47,195
47,761
49,349
71,807
Katrina WARKLiberal
25,816
25,906
26,016
26,382
26,753
30,646
33,820
Charlotte McCABEThe Greens
21,195
21,628
21,789
22,148
23,697
25,632
–
Mark James WATSONPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,757
4,849
5,246
6,725
7,416
–
–
Emily BROLLOAnimal Justice Party
2,549
2,632
2,915
3,177
–
–
–
Amanda COOKUnited Australia Party
2,517
2,685
2,878
–
–
–
–
William HUSSEYInformed Medical Options Party
1,140
1,259
–
–
–
–
–
Garth PYWELLAustralian Federation Party
1,102
–
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won Newcastle in 2019 with 65,784 of the 103,067 votes in the final count, beating Katrina WARK (Liberal) by 28,501 votes (63.8% to 36.2%). Claydon led on first preferences with 45.7% of 103,067 formal votes and passed the 51,534-vote majority at count 5.
103,067 formal votes7 candidates5 counts28,501-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 103,067 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, B.J. FUTTER (The Great Australian Party) was excluded; their 1,086 votes were distributed: 343 (31.6%) to Geoffrey SCULLY; 273 (25.1%) to Darren BROLLO; 159 (14.6%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 126 (11.6%) to Katrina WARK and 2 more.
On count 2, Pam WISE (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) was excluded; their 2,014 votes were distributed: 1,088 (54.0%) to Katrina WARK; 354 (17.6%) to Geoffrey SCULLY; 270 (13.4%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 166 (8.2%) to Darren BROLLO and 1 more.
On count 3, Darren BROLLO (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 3,739 votes were distributed: 1,611 (43.1%) to John MACKENZIE; 809 (21.6%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 668 (17.9%) to Geoffrey SCULLY; 651 (17.4%) to Katrina WARK.
On count 4, Geoffrey SCULLY (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,836 votes were distributed: 2,294 (47.4%) to Katrina WARK; 1,277 (26.4%) to John MACKENZIE; 1,265 (26.2%) to Sharon CLAYDON.
On count 5, John MACKENZIE (The Greens) was excluded; their 19,161 votes were distributed: 16,144 (84.3%) to Sharon CLAYDON; 3,017 (15.7%) to Katrina WARK.
Finally, Sharon CLAYDON (Labor) won with 65,784 votes to 37,283 for Katrina WARK (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Newcastle 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
B.J. FUTTERThe Great Australian Party
1,086
Geoffrey SCULLY (UAPP): 343 (31.6%)
Darren BROLLO (AJP): 273 (25.1%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 159 (14.6%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 126 (11.6%)
John MACKENZIE (GRN): 99 (9.1%)
Pam WISE (CDP): 86 (7.9%)
2
Pam WISEChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
2,014
Katrina WARK (LP): 1,088 (54.0%)
Geoffrey SCULLY (UAPP): 354 (17.6%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 270 (13.4%)
Darren BROLLO (AJP): 166 (8.2%)
John MACKENZIE (GRN): 136 (6.8%)
3
Darren BROLLOAnimal Justice Party
3,739
John MACKENZIE (GRN): 1,611 (43.1%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 809 (21.6%)
Geoffrey SCULLY (UAPP): 668 (17.9%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 651 (17.4%)
4
Geoffrey SCULLYUnited Australia Party
4,836
Katrina WARK (LP): 2,294 (47.4%)
John MACKENZIE (GRN): 1,277 (26.4%)
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 1,265 (26.2%)
5
John MACKENZIEThe Greens
19,161
Sharon CLAYDON (ALP): 16,144 (84.3%)
Katrina WARK (LP): 3,017 (15.7%)
Votes after every count
Newcastle 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Sharon CLAYDONLabor · elected
47,137
47,296
47,566
48,375
49,640
65,784
Katrina WARKLiberal
30,107
30,233
31,321
31,972
34,266
37,283
John MACKENZIEThe Greens
16,038
16,137
16,273
17,884
19,161
–
Geoffrey SCULLYUnited Australia Party
3,471
3,814
4,168
4,836
–
–
Darren BROLLOAnimal Justice Party
3,300
3,573
3,739
–
–
–
Pam WISEChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,928
2,014
–
–
–
–
B.J. FUTTERThe Great Australian Party
1,086
–
–
–
–
–
About this page
Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
