Labor candidate Robyn Clarke has claimed a historic victory over the Murray-Wellington seat against incumbent Murray Cowper, but the renegade Liberal is not conceding defeat.
On Saturday night Ms Clarke told supporters at the Boathouse Tavern: “I’ve smashed him”, when leading Mr Cowper early in the vote.
The Murray-Wellington seat has been traditionally Liberal, with Mr Cowper representing the seat since 2008.
“I did say at the start of this campaign that the Clarke campaign was going for the seat of Murray-Wellington and Mr Cowper was just a small bump in the road,” Ms Clarke said in her celebration speech,” Ms Clarke said.
However, Mr Cowper was unwilling to concede defeat until the last of the Murray-Wellington votes had been counted.
“There is a swing, we can't deny that, but it's still too close to call,” Mr Cowper said.
“I suspect it’s going to come down to the polling numbers and preferences. We have a lot of support from the Nationals, the Shooter, Fisher and Farmers and independents, so I will say I think there will still be some movement.”
Mr Cowper acknowledged a 12 per cent swing was large for the electorate, but said he had fought close battles before.
“You may remember, at my first election win in 2005, I won by 198 votes, and I only found that out after two weeks,” he said.
“I've still gotta be hopeful.”