Zoe Daniel FINALLY concedes defeat two weeks after throwing a dance party when she thought she WON

Daily Mail​

31-05-2025

Independent MP Zoe Daniel has officially conceded defeat in the race for the inner-Melbourne seat of Goldstein weeks after she threw a premature victory party.
The concession follows an extensive partial recount, requested by Daniel after the initial count showed her trailing by just 260 votes.
'It's been a long process and, in the end after a recount of about 85,000 votes, representing 75 per cent of the votes cast, there were only a few votes in it,' Daniel said in a video shared to X on Saturday.
She acknowledged that the once-safe Liberal seat had become one of the most hotly-contested in the nation and emphasised the heightened level of accountability that will follow the close result.
'Goldstein is now one of the most marginal seats in the country, and with that comes embedded accountability. In that, we have done our job. This incredibly close contest reflects just how much our community cares about the future,' she said.
Daniel hinted that she may run again at the next election.
'See you in 2028? Maybe!' she wrote at the end of her message.
Daniel's admission comes after she lapped up the adulation of her adoring supporters when she declared a premature victory on election night on May 3.
The song 'Titanium' by David Guetta blasted as the crowd whooped and cheered while she walked to the stage.
When she got there she threw both hands in the air, declaring that 'hope wins'.
'I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose,' the lyrics rang out as Daniel danced on the stage.
She thanked her supporters, adding, 'What we have achieved here is extraordinary'.
But within hours, as the vote count continued, it became clear that Daniel's seat was still on a knife edge.
Two days later, even after she had walked back her victory claims, Daniel was still in the dancing mood.
The Teal MP shared a video of her all-female office dancing wildly to Chappell Roan's hit song Pink Pony Club.
'It's a resilience test that's for sure,' she captioned the video. 'But no matter what, we will keep dancing.'
Liberal MP Tim Wilson first claimed victory on May 7 after several media outlets declared Goldstein in his favour.
On Saturday, Wilson released a statement claiming victory, thanking Daniel and the Australian Electoral Commission.
'We won this year, because, despite bigger political headwinds, from 2016 to the present we always turned up and worked for the community, including during the three years I was not the local MP,' he wrote.
'Over a year ago I said this contest was about more than two candidates. It was a contest for the soul of the community, the Liberal Party and Australia.
'We ran a positive and hope-focused campaign that we are immensely proud of. Now it is time to project that hope and optimism to Australia.'
At the end of his statement, Wilson addressed those who had doubted him.
'Finally, to those that said taking back Goldstein was improbable and likely impossible in over three years, and to Liberals across Australia who doubt our future electoral prospects, I have four words: It can be done,' he said.