Libs Choose Woman Over Anti-Voice Figure for Teal Challenge
Gisele Kapterian secures Liberal candidacy in Bradfield, defeating anti-Voice campaigner Mundine in a significant pre-election contest
Gisele Kapterian, Bradfield, Nicolette Boele, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Liberal Party, Australia
Sydney: A senior tech executive just made waves in the political scene. Gisele Kapterian has knocked out anti-Voice campaigner Nyunggai Warren Mundine in a crucial pre-election showdown. This is a big win for the Liberal Party as they gear up to face the teal challenge.
On Saturday, Kapterian, a Cambridge law grad, was chosen as the Liberal candidate for Bradfield. She’s stepping in for Paul Fletcher, who’s retiring. This seat, once a safe bet for the Liberals, is now a tight race with a 2.5% margin thanks to the rise of teal candidate Nicolette Boele.
Kapterian really shone in the first round of voting, securing an absolute majority among the 400 preselectors. This meant no need for a run-off, which is pretty impressive. Mundine, along with another candidate, was eliminated early on.
This is a tough break for Mundine, who was hoping for a second shot at federal parliament after previously running with Labor. His profile had been on the rise this year as a key figure in the No campaign for the voice referendum.
Teal candidate Boele congratulated Kapterian but insisted that the community would be better off moving away from the major parties. Meanwhile, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley praised Kapterian as the perfect candidate for this moment.
She highlighted Kapterian’s impressive background, her ability to connect with people, and her success story in the multicultural landscape of Australia. Ley emphasized that no seat should be taken for granted, especially with the upcoming elections.
Kapterian had been campaigning in the southern part of the seat before the boundaries changed. After the last election, Fletcher was the only Liberal left on Sydney’s north shore, as teal independents took over other seats.
Feeling honored to follow in Fletcher’s footsteps, Kapterian is focused on improving the economic situation for local families and businesses. She pointed out that households are feeling the pinch, especially after the holiday season.
She believes the only way to get the economy back on track is to end the current government’s cost of living issues. The last election was a wake-up call for the Liberals, as they didn’t win Bradfield on primary votes for the first time.
Fletcher’s vote dropped significantly, and the upcoming redistribution has made things even tighter. The next federal election is set for May 17, so it’s all hands on deck for the Liberals.