1938 Wakefield by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wakefield on 10 December 1938. This was triggered by the death of United Australia MP Charles Hawker.

1938 Wakefield by-election

10 December 1938

First party Second party Third party   IND Candidate Sydney McHugh Richard L. Butler Percy Quirke Party Labor United Australia Independent Popular vote 18,870 19,591 11,343 Percentage 37.9% 39.3% 22.8% Swing 1.3pp 24.1pp 22.8pp TPP 56.7% 43.3% TPP swing 20.1pp 20.1pp

MP before election Charles Hawker United Australia Elected MP Sydney McHugh Labor

The election was won by Labor candidate Sydney McHugh from a massive 20 percent two-party swing.

Results

Wakefield by-election, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	United Australia	Richard Layton Butler	19,591	39.3	−24.1
	Labor	Sydney McHugh	18,870	37.9	+1.3
	Independent	Percy Quirke	11,343	22.8	+22.8
Total formal votes			49,804	97.8	+1.7
Informal votes			1,114	2.2	−1.7
Turnout			50,918	93.6	−2.9
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Sydney McHugh	28,255	56.7	+20.1
	United Australia	Richard Layton Butler	21,549	43.3	−20.1
	Labor gain from United Australia		Swing	+20.1

See also

• List of Australian federal by-elections