1935 Newcastle by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Newcastle on 1 June 1935. This was triggered by the death of long-serving Labor MP David Watkins. Following Watkins' death, only Billy Hughes and Senator George Pearce remained of those elected at the first federal election in 1901.

1935 Newcastle by-election

1 June 1935
  First party Second party
 
LAB
Candidate David Watkins James Smith
Party Labor Labor (NSW)
Popular vote 25,374 22,135
Percentage 49.0% 42.7%
Swing Decrease8.2pp Increase8.2pp
TPP 53.8% 46.2%
TPP swing Decrease4.3pp Increase4.3pp

MP before election

David Watkins
Labor

Elected MP

David Watkins
Labor

The by-election was won by Watkins' son, David Oliver Watkins. As Newcastle was the only remaining New South Wales seat held by the federal Labor Party, the by-election was closely fought with the breakaway New South Wales Labor Party, supporters of the controversial former premier Jack Lang.

Results

edit
1935 Newcastle by-election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor David Watkins 25,374 49.0 −8.2
Labor (NSW) James Smith 22,135 42.7 8.2
Social Credit Hilton Sykes 4,302 8.3 8.3
Total formal votes 51,811 98.3
Informal votes 908 1.7
Turnout 52,719 93.7
Two-candidate-preferred result
Labor David Watkins 27,867 53.8 −4.3
Labor (NSW) James Smith 23,944 46.2 4.3
Labor hold Swing −4.3

References

edit
  1. ^ "By-Elections 1934-1937". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 15 June 2022.