Independent candidate Allegra Spender is the fourth independent in history to win the electorate of Wentworth. Spender defeated the Liberal incumbent, Dave Sharma, with an 8 per cent margin, proving the pre-poll predictions wrong.

Spender was one of five “teal candidates” who ran against Liberal MPs; Sophie Scamps in Mackellar, Kylea Tink in North Sydney, Zoe Daniel in Goldstein and Monique Ryan in Kooyong. All five candidates listed an integrity commission and greater action on climate change as their key demands.

Allegra is the daughter of former Liberal MP John Spender, but decided to run as an independent saying this will give her the opportunity to vote for the people, not the party. Wentworth has long been known as a blue Ribbon seat for the Liberal party but Spender was very confident of a win throughout the campaign, and election night on May 21. Adriana Wainstok was there to report this “teal” win for The Junction.