Ex-ABC journalist Zoe Daniel asks for recount after losing seat of Goldstein

The tightest race of the election was won by a mere 260 votes last week after both candidates claimed victory. The saga is still not over.

Ex-ABC journalist and Independent Zoe Daniel is behind the latest twist in the tightest race of the 2025 federal election.

Ms Daniel, the incumbent in the seat of Goldstein that encompasses bayside suburbs like Sandringham and Brighton, claimed victory on election night before a surge in postal votes gave the lead to Liberal challenger Tim Wilson.

Mr Wilson in turn claimed victory — not once but twice — including once last week when he emerged as leader by a margin of just 128 votes.

He wished Ms Daniel “all the best in their next chapter”, but the Teal is refusing to close the book.

Speaking on Saturday, she revealed she was challenging the result and calling for an official recount. She cited “unusual fluctuations and large numbers of votes moving to and fro in the final stages of the count”.

“I have taken expert advice and asked the AEC to consider whether a full recount is appropriate,” Ms Daniel said.

“There are also several outstanding questions regarding the broader count which would be resolved by a recount.

“As always I will respect the process and await the commission’s decision.”

Ms Daniel made headlines during the campaign after a video emerged of her dancing with staff a day after prematurely claiming victory.

The threshold for a recount is 100 votes. If the margin falls below that, it triggers an automatic recount. But Mr Wilson says it never has.

On social media, he urged Ms Daniel to move on.

“At some point we should respect the professional staff at the AEC. I wish Zoe Daniel, her family & staff well in the next chapter. I hope she finds peace,” he wrote.

In a statement last week, Mr Wilson said he felt an “incredible sense of gratitude and appreciation” to the Goldstein community.

He also thanked his volunteers who “have done an amazing job ensuring we have defied political history in the milestones we’ve marked and political gravity in the context of the broader election result.”

Mr Wilson claimed they were the first team to “defeat a Teal Independent MP — ever” and the first Liberal team in “110+ years to win a seat off an Independent MP elected a general election”.This has only ever been once before in Gippsland in 1913.

In her own statement, Ms Daniel reiterated the margin for the seat of Goldstein was only 128 votes and a full distribution of preferences was yet to be completed.

“We’ve come this far and it seems prudent to allow the Australian Electoral Commission to get on with finishing the job,” she said on Facebook.

“Any consideration of a recount will occur after that.”

Liberals candidate Tim Wilson celebrates after defeating Independent Zoe Daniel in the seat of Goldstein. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

— with NCA Newswire

Originally published as Ex-ABC journalist Zoe Daniel asks for recount after losing seat of Goldstein