The Nationals’ Sam Birrell has convincingly held the federal seat of Nicholls, obtaining 47.99 per cent of the first preference count.
On a two-party preferred basis, Mr Birell achieved 65.54 per cent of the vote, the remaining 34.46 per cent allocated to Labor’s Kim Travers.
Voters turned out at polling places across the region, in towns such as Bamawm, Lockington, Nanneella and Echuca.
In Shepparton on election night, he addressed his supporters at a celebratory event.
“Three years ago it was an election on a knife edge,” Mr Birrell said.
“Here we are in 2025 and we already know we have smashed it in Nicholls.
“I’ll never take it for granted ... I got in this to do a job and represent people from my community.”
Mr Birrell has represented Nicholls since the 2022 election.
First preference counts from all of 79 polling places had been returned and counted as of Monday afternoon.
In order of the ballot, the first preference count for each candidate is as follows:
First preference count for Nicholls
Kim Travers, Australian Labor Party 23.62 per cent
Paul Bachelor, Family First 4.44 per cent
Glenn Floyd, Trumpet of Patriots 4.59 per cent
Aaron Tyrrell, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 11.20 per cent
Sam Birrell, The Nationals 47.99 per cent
Jeff Davy, Australian Citizens Party 0.98 per cent
Shelby Eade, The Greens 7.18 per cent