In the running: Independent candidate for Mallee Sophie Baldwin.
Nationals MP Anne Webster romped back in as the Member for Mallee with 69.96 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote.
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The federal seat of Mallee covers Cohuna and Kerang in the Gannawarra Shire Council and has always been held by the Country Party/National Party.
The signs for Ms Webster to regain the seat were good from the start of polling — with 97 of the 99 booths counted on Sunday morning she had received 49.82 per cent of first preference votes.
The ALP’s Carole Hart received 16.7 per cent of first preference votes (30.08 per cent of TCP).
Independent Sophie Baldwin attracted 9.97 per cent of first preferences. Cohuna got behind Ms Baldwin, who was raised in the town, with 499 first preference votes going her away ahead of Ms Webster, who received 429 of first preference votes at that booth.
United Australia Party’s Stuart King attracted 9.66 per cent of first preference votes, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 6.39 per cent and the Greens 4.92 per cent.
The other Independent Claudia Haenel received 2.27 per cent of first preference votes and the Citizens Party’s Chris Lahy 0.79 per cent.
Disclosure:Sophie Baldwin is a former Country News reporter and occasional contributor to McPherson Media Group publications.
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