One Nation Wins First-Ever Lower House Seat in Australian By-Election

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party won its first seat in Australia's House of Representatives in a by-election held Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the rural electorate of Farrer, located between Sydney and Melbourne, according to preliminary results from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. David Farley, a former agribusiness executive, captured 59.1% of the vote, defeating the candidate from the centre-right Liberal Party.

The seat became vacant after Liberal leader Sussan Ley resigned in February 2026. The ruling Labor Party, which holds 94 of 150 lower-house seats, chose not to contest the election, allowing One Nation to challenge the long-held conservative stronghold. Farrer has been held by conservative parties since its creation over 50 years ago.

This result marks a significant milestone for One Nation, which has operated for three decades without securing a lower-house seat. The win aligns with a broader global trend of increased electoral support for far-right and populist parties, following recent setbacks for mainstream parties such as the UK Labour Party in local elections.

The Australian Electoral Commission will formally declare the result after final vote counting. The next sitting of parliament will determine if One Nation increases its influence, though the Labor government’s majority remains unchanged.