Zoe Daniel Admits Defeat Two Weeks Following Her Victory Celebration
Independent MP Zoe Daniel conceded defeat in the highly contested inner-Melbourne seat of Goldstein this weekend, following an extensive partial recount. The recount was requested by Daniel after the original count showed her trailing by only 260 votes.
'After a re-examination of approximately 85,000 votes, accounting for 75 percent of the votes cast, the margin was minimal,' Daniel stated in a video shared on Saturday.
She acknowledged the intense competition in the once-safe Liberal seat and emphasized the heightened level of accountability that the close result would bring.
'Goldstein is now one of the nation's most marginal seats, and with that comes a heightened sense of responsibility. We have done our part in driving this incredibly close contest, demonstrating just how much our community cares about the future.'
Daniel did not rule out the possibility of contesting the seat again in the future, concluding her message with a playful 'See you in 2028? Maybe!'
The concession comes two weeks after Daniel prematurely celebrated an apparent victory on election night on May 3, citing 'hope wins' and throwing a dance party with her supporters. However, the vote count continued, revealing that Daniel's seat remained on a knife edge.
Two days later, despite walking back her victory claims, Daniel’s team shared a video of her dancing with her all-female office to the song Pink Pony Club.
The seat will now be held by Liberal MP Tim Wilson, who first claimed victory on May 7 after several media outlets declared Goldstein in his favor. In a statement released on Saturday, Wilson thanked Daniel and the Australian Electoral Commission while emphasizing the positive and hope-focused nature of his campaign.
'From 2016 to the present, we have always shown up and worked for our community, even during the three years when I was not the local MP,' Wilson wrote. 'This contest was about more than just two candidates. It was a contest for the soul of the community, the Liberal Party, and Australia.'
He also addressed those who had doubted his electoral prospects, saying, 'It can be done.'
In the aftermath of the extended vote recount, Zoe Daniel shared a video expressing that general-news and political videos will now be crucial for her as she contemplates a potential re-entry into the race in the future. Meanwhile, Goldstein's increased political significance suggests that both traditional news outlets and social media platforms will need to deliver up-to-date news and videos about local politics, as well as national developments.
