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Hamilton has leaned decisively toward the Labor Party, bringing in a new MP, as the city’s two incumbent MPs at National politely acknowledged defeat on an election night that hit National.
Under the current form of the count, Hamilton’s two new MPs would be Jamie Strange in the east and Dr. Gaurav Sharma in the west. Hamilton East MP David Bennett and Hamilton West colleague Tim Macindoe volunteered their participation in the Labor City election party in Melville.
In Hamilton, West Sharma leads incumbent Tim MacIndoe by more than 4,000 votes with 72 percent counted.
Dominico Zapata / Things
Labor candidates Jamie Strange and Gaurav Sharma at the Hamilton polling station at the Melville United AFC.
The count is from 13,351 to 9406 from Macindoe.
Sharma was making his second attempt to take the Macindoe seat since 2008.
Bennett and Macindoe arrived at the Labor party at Melville United around 9:30 pm to congratulate them on “a fantastic job tonight,” Bennett said.
“Congratulations, Jamie. Well done.”
“We just gave a speech at our venue and it’s always hard to do that kind of thing … All good and all the best to you, and enjoy your celebration tonight.”
Macindoe added: “Twelve years ago, Martin [Gallagher] I walked into my election night function. He was extraordinarily kind and acknowledged that he had a new MP in a way that I would like to have now, “Macindoe said, grabbing Sharma’s hand and raising it high to the cheers of the crowd, he yelled” We have a new MP! “
“Clearly for us it is very disappointing,” Macindoe said. “For you it is a wonderful moment of celebration. I think it is tremendous that we can have both emotions.
“Gaurav, you are a very good man. And you have just been elected to a very good electorate.”
In response, Strange said he wanted to acknowledge Bennett’s past 15 years in office.
“You worked really hard to get that seat back in 2005 across from Diane [Yates] … It is a swing seat and has maintained it for 15 years through strong fender and many door knocks.
“He has always worked hard for the electorate, is incredibly passionate about our city, and there are some key infrastructure projects that will always be part of his legacy.”
Sharma said: “This is not the end of the campaign. This is the beginning, because we have to make sure we keep the promises that we make, because there will be people like Tim and David who will hold us accountable.”
“We get along really well,” he said of Macindoe. “We take photos at events and I’m going to miss it.”
Previously, there was an upbeat mood among Labor supporters gathered in the club rooms of the Melville United AFC in Hamilton on Saturday night.
The Labor headquarters was the headquarters of Sharma, the Hamilton East Strange candidate, and the Hauraki Waikato candidate Nanaia Mahuta. Strange is encouraged by the first poll results.
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
Hamilton East MP David Bennett.
“I don’t get carried away, but it’s a good position to be in,” he said.
“I think we will have a clear idea of how the country has voted, in terms of parties, relatively earlier. I think the electorates will come later.”
Sharma targeted traditional national voting areas during her campaign and received a positive reception.
He said the Hamilton West electorate could once again be a benchmark seat and reflect the mood of the nation.
“I remember an older couple who invited me in … and said they had always voted for National, but in this election they would vote for Labor because of the great job Jacinda did [Ardern] has done, “Sharma said.
Meanwhile, across the river in Hamilton East, National’s David Bennett will rely on his placement on the roster to return to Parliament with Labor’s Jamie Strange at 12,753, compared to Bennett’s tally of 10,592 at 72 per cent. the votes counted.
At the Hamilton Wanderers Football Club, some 50 supporters had gathered to support Hamilton East MP David Bennett, who kept a firm and cheerful smile, even as he slowly watched his seat slip away.
Most of the group gathered around a television to watch the results, while Bennett made sure everyone had a drink in hand.
At around 8.15pm, some of the older supporters were starting to leave, although one or two were still coming through the gates.
“It’s a little dark in there,” Bennett warned one of the newcomers who arrived while talking to him. Stuff at the front door.
Bennett said he would pay a visit to the Melville United club “around 9 pm” to congratulate his opponent Jamie Strange.
“The crucial thing is the vote of that party. When we saw how high it was, we knew that the votes of the candidates would go the same way. That is the nature of politics.”
Waikato also faced initial pressure from Labor, but National incumbent Tim van de Molen extended his lead against Labor challenger Kerrin Leoni. Van de Molen took the predominantly rural and national seat by more than 14,000 votes in his first race in 2017. National has held the seat since it was created in its more or less current form in 1969.
In other results from the Waikato region:
Hamilton East
92 percent counted
Jamie Strange (Labor) 14,424
David Bennett (National) 12,070
Hamilton West
93 percent counted
Gaurav Sharma (work) 15,873
Tim Macindoe (National) 11,487
Waikato:
84.3% counted
Tim van de Molen (National) 16,607
Kerrin Leoni (Labor) 11,867
Hauraki-Waikato
93 percent counted
Nanaia Mahuta (Labor), 11,394
Donna Pokere-Phillips (Maori) 4,096
Coromandel
99 percent counted
Scott Simpson (National) 19,236
Nathaniel James Blomfield (Labor) 15,027
Taupō
93 percent counted
Louise Upston (National) 18,476
Ala ‘Al-Bustanji (Labor) 13,174
Taranaki-King Country
94 percent counted
Barbara Kuriger (National) 16,092
Angela Roberts (Labor) 12,519
Port Waikato
99 percent counted
Andrew Bayly (National) 13,456
Baljit Kaur (Labor) 9,296
CHRISTEL YARDLEY / Things
National Congressman Tim Macindoe has held the Hamilton West electorate since 2008.
