2019 Wexford by-election

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Wexford constituency in Ireland on Friday, 29 November 2019, to fill the vacancy left by the election of Independents 4 Change TD Mick Wallace to the European Parliament.

2019 Wexford by-election
29 November 2019
Turnout40,382 (35.3%)
 
Nominee Malcolm Byrne George Lawlor Verona Murphy
Party Fianna Fáil Labour Fine Gael
First preferences 12,506 8,024 9,543
Percentage 31.2% 20.0% 23.8%
Final count 18,830 14,476 -
 
Nominee Johnny Mythen Karin Dubsky Jim Codd
Party Sinn Féin Green Aontú
First preferences 4,125 2,490 2,102
Percentage 10.3% 6.2% 5.2%
Final count - - -
Wexford shown within Ireland
TD before election

Mick Wallace
Inds. 4 Change

 TD

Malcolm Byrne
Fianna Fáil

It was held on the same day as three other by-elections in Cork North-Central, Dublin Fingal and Dublin Mid-West.[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 Wexford was 109,861, and the constituency elected one Labour Party TD, one Fianna Fáil TD, one I4C TD and two Fine Gael TDs.[5]

The election was won by Wexford County Councillor Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fáil.[6] Andrew Bolger was co-opted to Byrne's seat on Wexford County Council following his election to the Dáil.

Three of the candidates were sitting Wexford County Councillors; Malcolm Byrne, Jim Codd and George Lawlor. Johnny Mythen was a former Wexford County Councillor while Melissa O'Neill was a former Kilkenny County Councillor.

This was the first occasion the Irish Freedom Party contested any national election as a registered political party and, alongside Cork North-Central, the first time Aontú contested by-elections.

Byrne subsequently lost his seat at the February 2020 general election. His defeat after only 71 days made him the TD with the second-shortest term of service.[7] Byrne was subsequently elected to the Seanad in April 2020, with Mythen and Murphy being elected to the Dáil in the 2020 general election.[8]

Result
2019 Wexford by-election
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345
Fianna Fáil Malcolm Byrne 31.2 12,506 12,660 13,082 14,729 18,830
Fine Gael Verona Murphy 23.8 9,543 9,620 9,943 10,836  
Labour George Lawlor 20.0 8,024 8,112 8,517 10,907 14,476
Sinn Féin Johnny Mythen 10.3 4,125 4,344 4,665    
Green Karin Dubsky 6.2 2,490 2,745 3,037    
Aontú Jim Codd 5.2 2,102 2,395      
People Before Profit Cinnamon Blackmore 1.6 659        
Irish Freedom Melissa O'Neill 1.2 489        
Independent Charlie Keddy 0.3 130        
Electorate: 114,483   Valid: 40,068   Spoilt: 314 (0.8%)   Quota: 20,035   Turnout: 40,382 (35.3%)

    See also

    References
    1. "Four by-elections likely to take place in November". RTÉ News. 17 September 2019.
    2. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
    3. "Writs moved for four Dáil by-elections". RTÉ News. 7 November 2019.
    4. "Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 7 November 2019: Wexford By-election: Issue of Writ". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    5. "Wexford – General Election: 26 February 2016". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
    6. "Wexford – By Election: 29 November 2019". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
    7. "Labour hits rock bottom and the second-shortest serving TD ever: 6 election records made this year". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
    8. "33rd DÁIL GENERAL ELECTION 8 February 2020 Election Results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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