1 in 5 voters in Cowper planning to change their vote this election

A significant portion of voters in the federal electorate of Cowper are considering changing their political allegiance in the upcoming 2025 election, with independent candidates and minor parties poised to benefit from this shift.

Recent polling from DemosAu indicates that 20 percent of Cowper voters plan to change their vote this election, and 44 percent are open to supporting an independent candidate over those from established political parties. This trend reflects a broader national movement, where 29 percent of Australians have expressed intentions to vote differently compared to the 2022 election, and 42 percent indicated they are open to voting for independent candidates.

In the 2022 federal election, independent candidate Caz Heise garnered 26.26 percent of the first preference votes in Cowper, challenging incumbent National MP Pat Conaghan, who secured 39.47 percent. The final two-candidate preferred count saw Conaghan win with 59.47 percent over Heise’s 40.53 percent.

Nationally, the 2022 election saw a notable decline in support for major parties, with nearly one-third of voters casting their ballots for minor parties or independents—the highest proportion in almost a century. 

DemosAu polled 2000 people across the country for its research, asking a range of questions about the election, cost of living, lifestyle, and beliefs.

Find out more in the video below.