2019 Dublin Mid-West by-election

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Dublin Mid-West constituency in Ireland on Friday, 29 November 2019, to fill the vacancy left by the election of Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald to the European Parliament.

2019 Dublin Mid-West by-election

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Turnout19,447 (26.6%)
 
Mark Ward Sinn Féin.jpg
Emer Higgins.jpg
Paul Gogarty Green Party.jpg
Nominee Mark Ward Emer Higgins Paul Gogarty
Party Sinn Féin Fine Gael Independent
First preferences 4,622 3,576 2,435
Percentage 24.0% 18.6% 12.7%
Final count 7,669 7,144 -

 
Moynihan
Timmons
Joanna Tuffy.jpg
Nominee Shane Moynihan Francis Timmons Joanna Tuffy
Party Fianna Fáil Independent Labour
First preferences 2,264 1,299 1,294
Percentage 11.8% 6.8% 6.7%
Final count - - -

 
Peter Kavanagh.jpg
Sweeney
McNally
Nominee Peter Kavanagh Kellie Sweeney Anne-Marie McNally
Party Green Solidarity–PBP Social Democrats
First preferences 1,222 983 788
Percentage 6.4% 5.1% 4.1%
Final count - - -


TD before election

Frances Fitzgerald
Fine Gael

TD

Mark Ward
Sinn Féin

It was held on the same day as three other by-elections in Cork North-Central, Dublin Fingal and Wexford.[1] The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[2] The by-election writ was moved in the Dáil on 7 November 2019.[3][4]

At the 2016 general election, the electorate of Dublin Mid-West was 69,388, and the constituency elected one Sinn Féin TD, one Fine Gael TD, one Fianna Fáil TD, and one AAA–PBP TD.[5]

The election was won by South Dublin County Councillor Mark Ward of Sinn Féin. Lisa Colman was co-opted to Ward's seat on South Dublin County Council following his election to the Dáil.

Among the candidates were 7 South Dublin County Councillors; Paul Gogarty, Emer Higgins, Peter Kavanagh, Shane Moynihan, Francis Timmons, Joanna Tuffy and Mark Ward and former South Dublin County Councillor Ruth Nolan.

This was the first occasion when by-elections were contested by Independents 4 Change (who also contested Dublin Fingal) and the Social Democrats (who also contested Cork North-Central and Dublin Fingal).

Result

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2019 Dublin Mid-West by-election
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sinn Féin Mark Ward 24.0 4,622 4,729 4,812 5,228 5,426 5,616 6,293 6,652 7,669
Fine Gael Emer Higgins 18.6 3,576 3,603 3,703 3,748 3,959 4,362 4,583 5,287 7,144
Independent Paul Gogarty 12.7 2,435 2,557 2,680 2,840 3,176 3,731 4,099 5,063  
Fianna Fáil Shane Moynihan 11.8 2,264 2,304 2,360 2,394 2,564 2,758 2,894    
Independent Francis Timmons 6.8 1,299 1,365 1,410 1,590 1,807 1,929      
Labour Joanna Tuffy 6.7 1,294 1,333 1,442 1,547 1,775        
Green Peter Kavanagh 6.4 1,222 1,268 1,393 1,544          
Solidarity–PBP Kellie Sweeney 5.1 983 1,138 1,281            
Social Democrats Anne-Marie McNally 4.1 788 845              
Workers' Party David Gardiner 1.6 317                
Inds. 4 Change Ruth Nolan 1.4 271                
Independent Charlie Keddy 0.5 95                
Independent Peter Madden 0.4 71                
Electorate: 73,152   Valid: 19,237   Spoilt: 210 (0.3%)   Quota: 9,619   Turnout: 19,447 (26.6%)  

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Four by-elections likely to take place in November". RTÉ News. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Writs moved for four Dáil by-elections". RTÉ News. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 7 November 2019: Dublin Mid-West By-election: Issue of Writ". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Dublin Mid-West – General Election: 26 February 2016". ElectionsIreland.org. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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