2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election

Last updated

2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Partido Nacional NZ.png
  2016 27 February 2018 May 2020  
 
Simon-Bridges-Free-Crop.jpg
Amy Adams politician.jpg
Candidate Simon Bridges Amy Adams
1st Rd.Qualified to 2nd Rd.Qualified to 2nd Rd.
2nd Rd.≥29<29

 
Judith Collins 3by2.png
Steven Joyce crop.jpg
Candidate Judith Collins Steven Joyce
1st Rd.EliminatedEliminated

Leader before election

Bill English

Leader after election

Simon Bridges

2018 New Zealand National Party deputy leadership election
  2016 27 February 2018 May 2020  
 
Paula Bennett in 2018.png
Judith Collins 3by2.png
Candidate Paula Bennett Judith Collins
1st Rd.≥29≤29

Deputy Leader before election

Paula Bennett

Deputy Leader after election

Paula Bennett

The 2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held on 27 February 2018 to determine the 12th Leader of the National Party. On 13 February 2018, Bill English announced his resignation as leader of the National Party, effective on 27 February 2018. He left Parliament on 13 March 2018. On 20 February, Deputy Leader Paula Bennett announced that a concurrent deputy leadership election would take place, in which she would stand. [1]

Contents

After a secret caucus ballot Simon Bridges was declared the new leader of the National Party and Paula Bennett was re-elected as deputy. [2]

Background

The Fifth National Government of New Zealand came to an end after the 2017 general election saw the National Party win 44% of the vote and Labour and New Zealand First form the minority Sixth Labour Government with confidence and supply from the Green Party. On 13 February 2018 Bill English, the leader of the National Party and Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, announced his resignation as party leader effective on 27 February, and as a Member of Parliament effective on 13 March. [3] [4] Deputy leader Paula Bennett asked National senior whip Jami-Lee Ross for her role to also be put up for election, but she would run to keep the position. [5] No other candidate declared an intention to run for the deputy leadership before 27 February.

Candidates

Declared candidates

At the time of the election, the following individuals were candidates:

NamePositionsNotesEndorsements
Amy Adams politician.jpg
Amy Adams
  • MP for Selwyn since 2008
  • Shadow Minister of Justice, Shadow Minister of Workplace Relations
Adams announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018. [6]
National MPs
Media personalities
Simon-Bridges-Free-Crop.jpg
Simon Bridges
Bridges announced his candidacy on 14 February 2018. [10]
Judith Collins 3by2.png
Judith Collins
  • MP for Papakura since 2002
  • Shadow Minister of Transport, Shadow Minister of Revenue
Collins announced her candidacy on 14 February 2018. [13]
Former political figures
Media personalities
Steven Joyce crop.jpg
Steven Joyce
  • List MP since 2008
  • Shadow Minister of Finance, Shadow Minister of Infrastructure
Joyce announced his candidacy on 20 February 2018. [24]

Withdrew before vote

NamePositionsNotesEndorsements
Mark Mitchell 2017.jpg
Mark Mitchell
  • MP for Rodney since 2011
  • Shadow Minister of Defence
Mitchell announced his candidacy on 19 February 2018. [25]
He withdrew the morning of the caucus vote, either before [26] or during the caucus meeting. [27]

Declined

The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:

Public opinion polling

DatePolling organisationSample sizeAmy AdamsPaula BennettSimon BridgesJonathan ColemanJudith CollinsSteven JoyceNikki KayeMark MitchellTodd MullerUnsure
30 Jan – 14 Feb 2018UMR Research [34] 1,0008%11%8%4%12%10%12%2%34%
Nat.9%14%9%3%17%14%11%1%19%
19–25 Feb 2018UMR Research [35] 60013%11%21%16%7%33%
~230 Nat.8%11%25%23%7%26%

Result

The election was conducted as a secret ballot of the National Party parliamentary caucus. [36] An exhaustive ballot method was used, so that the support of 29 of the 56 MPs were required to elect the leader. [37] Bridges was elected party leader after two rounds of voting. [36] Bennett and Collins ran for the deputy leadership, and Bennett was re-elected to the position. [38]

Outcomes

On 6 March Joyce announced his retirement from politics following speculation he would lose the finance portfolio. Joyce wouldn't confirm or deny this but said Bridges offered him a "high-ranking" portfolio. [39] On 11 March Bridges announced his shadow cabinet which saw Adams, Collins and Mitchell receive promotions; ranked 3rd, 4th and 7th respectively. [40] Two weeks later, former leadership contender Jonathan Coleman resigned from Parliament; Adams announced her own upcoming retirement in early 2019.

Bridges held the leadership for two years, before being successfully challenged for the role by Todd Muller.

See also

Related Research Articles

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