Zoe Daniel concedes in Goldstein after partial recount puts Tim Wilson 175 votes ahead

Teal Zoe Daniel has conceded to Liberal Tim Wilson in Goldstein after the results of a partial recount were finalised — but hinted at a rematch.

Zoe Daniel has finally conceded the seat of Goldstein to Liberal Tim Wilson after a partial recount from the Australian Electoral Commission was finalised.

The recount, requested by Ms Daniel last week after the tight margin kept changing after weeks of counting between the two candidates, put Mr Wilson ahead by 175 votes.

Ms Daniel on Saturday said she had called Mr Wilson to concede and congratulate him on his win.

“Today we did not win,” she wrote on social media.

“But we are not defeated. Hard things are hard, and a better kind of politics is worth fighting for.”

Ms Daniel also hinted that she would be back again to contest the seat at the next federal election.

“See you in 2028? (Maybe!),” she wrote.

It’s been a long process, and after a recount of about 75% of the votes cast, there were only a few votes in it.

Today we did not win. But we are not defeated. Hard things are hard, and a better kind of politics is worth fighting for.
See you in 2028? Maybe!

Link to video… pic.twitter.com/oHmmnojhIR

— Zoe Daniel MP (she/her) (@zdaniel) May 31, 2025

The high-profile teal also posted a lengthy video thanking her Melbourne bayside community.

“When I said before the election that I would fight for every vote, the last month was not quite what I had in mind!” she said.

“Goldstein is now one of the most marginal seats in the country, and with that comes embedded accountability.

“In that, we have done our job.”

Mr Wilson on Saturday said he was pleased the partial recount had been concluded and the count was still in his favour.

“We won this year because, despite bigger political headwinds, from 2016 to present, we always turned up and worked for the community, including during the three years I was not the local MP,” he said.

“Over a year ago, I said this contest was about more than two candidates. It was a contest for the soul of the community, the Liberal Party and Australia. We ran a positive and hope-focused campaign that we are immensely proud of. Now it is time to project that hope and optimism to Australia.”

Tim Wilson is still waiting for a formal declaration of his win in Goldstein. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Wilson also had a message for the doubters in terms of the Liberal Party’s chances of winning back seats in the cities.

“Finally, to those (who) said taking back Goldstein was improbable and likely impossible in over three years – and to Liberals across Australia who doubt our future electoral prospects, I have four words: it can be done.”

The AEC on Saturday said the recount “carefully re-examined all first preference votes for the two leading candidates and all informal ballot papers” and preferences were distributed with “a high degree of rigour”.

While it appears that Mr Wilson will win the seat it has not been officially declared by the AEC.

“A formal declaration of the poll for Goldstein will be held soon,” the AEC statement said.

The blue-ribbon seat of Goldstein was won by Ms Daniel in 2022 when she defeated Mr Wilson due to a Teal wave hitting a number of Coalition heartland seats across Victoria and NSW.

Originally published as Zoe Daniel concedes in Goldstein after partial recount puts Tim Wilson 175 votes ahead