2020 Election: Labor’s Ginny Andersen Takes Hutt South From National’s Chris Bishop

Ginny Andersen has won Hutt South.

The Wainuiomata club halls erupted in shocked cheers at 10:28 p.m. when an unexpected vote dump moved Andersen’s margin from 110 to over 1,000, enough to seal the deal and bring the seat back to Labor.

The atmosphere in the room went from tense nerves of the night to joy, seconds before Jacinda Ardern took the podium to speak with the faithful of the party.

With 95.5 percent of the votes counted, Andersen’s lead has been extended to 1,841.

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Both candidates still felt nervous well into the night. In 2017, Andersen shot to an early 2,000-vote lead, before late reporting booths brought Bishop the race back.

Earlier in the evening, when he arrived at a vibrant party function at the Victoria Tavern in Petone, Bishop said he had just had a shot of whiskey to calm his nerves.

“I have tried to work very hard for the last three years as a local MP. I am well aware that Hutt South had never elected a national deputy before since its inception in ’96 until Petone in the ’60, “Bishop said.

“My candidate vote so far is quite strong and I am very proud of that.”

At number seven on the list, he is likely to return to parliament depending on how many electorates National has.

“I’d like to go back, if I’m not on the list again, it’s probably indicative that it wasn’t a great night for the National Party … obviously there has been quite a big change for the Labor Party.”

In the rest of the Wellington region, Labor appears poised to win Central Wellington, Ōhāriu, Remutaka, Mana, Rongotai, Ōtaki and Wairarapa.