<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Victorian </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/liberal-party" rel="" target="" title="Liberal Party"><span>Liberal Party</span></a><span> has hung on to the seat of Nepean in the first big leadership test for Opposition Leader Jess Wilson ahead of the November state election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite a challenge from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/one-nation" rel="" target="" title="One Nation"><span>One Nation</span></a><span> and an Independent, Liberal candidate Anthony Marsh rose to the top of the ballot after more than 50,000 locals cast their votes on the Mornington Peninsula yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former Mornington Shire Council Mayor succeeds former deputy Liberal leader and ex-pro tennis player Sam Groth, who retired from politics in February.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/two-charged-melbourne-restaurant-arson-attack-docklands/23d6e797-aeef-48a1-8df5-cff40f88cfbf" rel="" target="" title="Two charged after Melbourne restaurant torched in arson attack"><strong><span>Two charged after Melbourne restaurant torched in arson attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With almost 80 per cent of the vote now counted, Marsh has picked up 38.5 per cent of the first preference vote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That represents an almost 10 per cent slump in first preference support for the Liberals compared with the last election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most of those votes went to One Nation candidate Darren Hercus and Independent Tracee Hutchison, who each saw first preference swings of more than 20 per cent towards them.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nepean-by-election-victoria-liberal-party-one-nation-anthony-marsh/5f61a999-c879-46a2-bc0d-dd579453d94e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it wasn't enough to tip the Liberals from the seat, who led by more than 10,000 votes once preferences were distributed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is the honour of my life to be standing here in front of you as the next member for Nepean," Marsh told Liberal Party supporters after a clear result was declared around 9pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been a hard-fought campaign, I think we're day 67 in and to stand in a room full of blue after what was an incredible day, I am so honoured and privileged again to be in this role."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jefferson-lewis-charged-murder-kumanjayi-little-baby/52a6fdc9-9bb9-40fc-83ff-58ddb3fd1638" rel="" target="" title="Jefferson Lewis charged with murder after death of five year-old girl"><strong><span>Jefferson Lewis charged with murder after death of five year-old girl</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The by-election had been regarded as Wilson's first test ahead of the state election in November.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I say thank you to the residents down here on the peninsula for putting your trust in Anthony and in me," Wilson told supporters last night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I will not let you down, I will fight for you every day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have met thousands of you over the past few weeks. I have looked you in the eye and I have said 'as your next premier, I will deliver for you'."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BREAKING NEWS: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-arrested-three-people-killed-in-attack-sydney-rosemeadow/cf6c8972-f96c-46ae-b20d-e8cbe1c6924f" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Man arrested after three people die in attack in Sydney home</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The by-election was also touted as a major litmus test for One Nation, which has gained a large groundswell of voter support in the last six months owing to a strong appetite for change.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pauline Hanson is yet to comment on last night's performance, but data shows around one in four Nepean voters put One Nation first on their ballot yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal counterparts in Farrer were watching the vote closely ahead of their own by-election next weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to </span><em><span>Weekend Today</span></em><span>, former Nationals leader David Littleproud said it was difficult to draw comparisons from the strong Liberal result in Nepean.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It will be a challenge, I think federal and state issues are different," Littleproud said of the Farrer by-election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By-elections send very different messages to general elections, but every election sends a very strong message for everyone to learn from, as it was for the Liberals in this state seat as well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>