1935 Newcastle by-election

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 8.2pp 8.2pp TPP 53.8% 46.2% TPP swing 4.3pp 4.3pp

MP before election David Watkins Labor Elected MP David Watkins Labor

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.

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

1935 Newcastle by-election

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