Voters return to the polls to decide Mark McGowan’s successor

Voters have returned to the polls today to decide who will takeover from outgoing Labor leader Mark McGowan in Perth’s southwest.

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July 29, 2023 - 9:21AM

NCA NewsWire

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Voters will return to the polls in Perth today after long time MP and Labor leader Mark McGowan’s shock resignation earlier this year.

Mr McGowan resigned from politics in May after six years as Premier, and more than a decade as leader of the West Australian Labor party.

For residents in the electorate of Rockingham in Perth’s southwest, Mr McGowan has been a persistent presence for decades.

Mr McGowan was first elected as Member for Rockingham in 1996, after a stint as Rockingham City Council deputy mayor.

Mark McGowan McGowan resigned from politics in May after six years as Premier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Colin Murty

His chosen successor, Magenta Marshall, will head into Saturday’s poll with a whopping 37.7 per cent margin over the opposition.

Born in Rockingham, Ms Marshall briefly worked with the Transport Workers Union before becoming an campaign director with WA Labor.

The ABC reported on Saturday that despite it being the safest seat in WA for Labor, party leaders were expecting their margin to shrink.

Labor candidate for Rockingham Magenta Marshall. Picture: Supplied

Liberal candidate for Rockingham Peter Hudson. Picture: Supplied

The Liberals candidate for the seat is 21-year-old Peter Hudson, who was also born and raised in Rockingham.

Other candidates include Madeline De Jong for the Greens, Rae Cottam from the Legalize Cannabis Party, and four independents.

Polling stations open from 8am-6pm and are based at: