A by-election was held on 18 April 2026 to elect the lord mayor of the City of Newcastle. The vacancy was triggered by the resignation of Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge to focus on his health.
Independent candidate Gavin Morris was elected in a landslide with over 67% of the two-candidate preferred vote.
Background Newcastle is a city that is traditionally dominated by the Labor Party. In July 2024, after losing an internal party pre-selection for the lord mayoralty, local anaesthetist Ross Kerridge announced that he intended to resign from the party and run as an independent. In that year's local government election, Kerridge won the Lord Mayoral election. In February 2026, Kerridge announced his intention to resign due to side-effects of recent cancer treatment.
Ward 1 Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe announced that she would run for the mayoralty as the Greens candidate.
Former NBN news presenter and weatherman, Gavin Morris, announced he would run as an independent; outgoing Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge endorsed Morris.
Ward 4 Liberal Councillor and former Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull announced that he would not nominate for the by-election. He endorsed fellow Liberal and Ward 2 Councillor Jenny Barrie. Barrie was later endorsed by the party as the Liberal candidate.
Ward 1 Councillor and former Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen announced his intention to run for Labor Party pre-selection. He was later endorsed by the party as their candidate.
Before nominations closed, Stephen O'Brien announced he would stand as Socialist Alliance candidate, and Milton Caine announced he would stand as an independent.
Previous results
Candidates Nominations for the by-election closed on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
Declared Candidates as they appeared on the ballot paper were: Party Candidate Background Stephen O’Brien Perennial candidate, former ironworker, TAFE worker and librarian Gavin Morris Former NBN news presenter (2009–2025) Charlotte McCabe Councillor for Ward 1 (2021–present) and Deputy Lord Mayor (2025–present) Jenny Barrie Councillor for Ward 2 (2021–present) Declan Clausen Councillor for Ward 1 (2015–present) and former Deputy Lord Mayor (2017–2024)<ref name=":4" / Milton Caine Perennial candidate and wheelchair-accessible taxi driver
Declined Nuatali Nelmes, former Lord Mayor (2014–24) and Councillor for Ward 3 (2008–14, 2024–25) Callum Pull, former Deputy Lord Mayor (2024–25) and Councillor for Ward 4 (2021–present) Carol Duncan, former radio presenter and former Councillor for Ward 2 (2017–24)
Results At the election, first time candidate Gavin Morris secured 51.84 percent of the first preference votes and 67.69 percent of the two-candidate preferred vote count. Greens candidate Charlotte McCabe secured a 4.22 percent swing to her party and Labor's Declan Clausen had a significant primary vote drop of 15.57 percent, resulting in Labor being removed from the two-candidate preferred count and final result.
References