# Electoral history of Billy Hughes

* This article is part of a series about Billy Hughes
Member for Sydney-Lang (1894–1901)
Member for West Sydney (1901–1917)
Member for Bendigo (1917–1922)
Member for North Sydney (1922–1949)
Member for Bradfield (1949–1952)
Prime Minister of AustraliaElectoral history
Term of government (1915–1923)
1916 Conscription plebiscite
Labor Party split of 1916
National Labor Party
Nationalist Party formation
1917 Conscription plebiscite
Egg-throwing incident
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
1919 Monopoly nationalisation referendum
Paris Peace Conference
Opposition to racial equality
German reparations
Territory of Papua
Ministries
First
Second
Third
Fourth
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Elections
1917
1919
1922 :
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The electoral history of Billy Hughes (1862–1952), the seventh prime minister of Australia, spanned 58 years across the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and House of Representatives.
In the Australian Parliament, Hughes represented the divisions of West Sydney, Bendigo, North Sydney and Bradfield, beginning in 1901 until his death in 1952. He also served as member for Sydney-Lang in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1894 until 1901.
Hughes also participated in several leadership elections in the Australian Labor Party and United Australia Party.

## New South Wales Legislative Assembly
### Sydney-Lang
#### 1894

1894 New South Wales colonial election: Sydney-Lang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 533 | 42.3 | |
| | Free Trade | John Taylor | 428 | 33.9 | |
| | Protectionist | Jack FitzGerald | 273 | 21.7 | |
| | Ind. Free Trade | John Butler | 27 | 2.1 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,261 | 97.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 37 | 2.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,298 | 74.8 | |
| | Labour win | Labour win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |

#### 1895

1895 New South Wales colonial election: Sydney-Lang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 525 | 58.7 |
| | Ind. Free Trade | John Taylor | 283 | 31.6 |
| | Ind. Protectionist | Henry Foran | 45 | 5.0 |
| | Ind. Free Trade | John Anderson | 42 | 4.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 895 | 98.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 908 | 55.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

#### 1898

1898 New South Wales colonial election: Sydney-Lang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 544 | 53.6 |
| | National Federal | Joseph Chuck | 297 | 29.3 |
| | Independent | John Strachan | 164 | 16.2 |
| | Independent Federalist | David Fealy | 10 | 1.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,015 | 98.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 12 | 1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,027 | 47.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | | |

## House of Representatives
### West Sydney
#### 1901

1901 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 6,652 | 73.7 | +73.7 |
| | Protectionist | James Beer | 2,062 | 22.9 | +22.9 |
| | Ind. Protectionist | James Hanrahan | 307 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,021 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 279 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,300 | 63.4 | |
| | Labour win | Labour win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |

#### 1903

1903 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 7,272 | 69.9 | -3.7 |
| | Free Trade | Edward Warren | 3,129 | 30.1 | +30.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,403 | 96.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 406 | 3.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,809 | 41.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.5 | |

#### 1906

1906 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 7,561 | 55.5 | -14.4 |
| | Anti-Socialist | James Burns | 6,056 | 44.5 | +14.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,617 | 96.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 469 | 3.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,086 | 50.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -14.4 | |

#### 1910

1910 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Billy Hughes | 13,000 | 69.8 | +14.3 |
| | Liberal | Stanley Cole | 4,986 | 26.8 | -17.7 |
| | Socialist Labor | Harry Holland | 628 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,614 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 341 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,955 | 60.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +16.0 | |

#### 1913

1913 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Billy Hughes | 17,658 | 71.3 | -0.0 |
| | Liberal | John Sutton | 7,119 | 28.7 | +2.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 24,777 | 94.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,406 | 5.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,183 | 64.6 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -1.5 | |

#### 1914

1914 Australian federal election: West Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Billy Hughes | 15,774 | 75.3 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | Walter Finch | 5,187 | 24.7 | -4.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 20,961 | 96.6 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 731 | 3.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,692 | 54.8 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.0 | |

### Bendigo
#### 1917

1917 Australian federal election: Bendigo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 16,272 | 57.4 | +12.5 |
| | Labor | Alfred Hampson | 12,091 | 42.6 | −12.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,363 | 97.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 618 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,981 | 89.7 | |
| | Nationalist gain from Labor | Nationalist gain from Labor | Swing | +12.5 | |

#### 1919

1919 Australian federal election: Bendigo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 14,291 | 55.0 | −2.4 |
| | Labor | Alfred Hampson | 11,676 | 45.0 | +2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,967 | 99.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 186 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,153 | 82.8 | |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | −2.4 | |

### North Sydney
#### 1922

1922 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 16,475 | 58.2 | -11.2 |
| | Constitutionalist | Albert Piddington | 11,812 | 41.8 | +41.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,287 | 97.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 775 | 2.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,062 | 65.5 | |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | -11.2 | |

#### 1925

1925 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 33,855 | 71.5 | +13.3 |
| | Labor | Joe Lamaro | 13,500 | 28.5 | +28.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 47,355 | 98.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 581 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,936 | 92.9 | |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | +13.3 | |

#### 1928

1928 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 32,734 | 66.2 | -5.3 |
| | Labor | Ben Howe | 16,736 | 33.8 | +5.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 49,470 | 94.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,718 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,188 | 94.6 | |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | -5.3 | |

#### 1929

1929 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Billy Hughes | 33,263 | 61.2 | +61.2 |
| | Nationalist | Lewis Nott | 20,298 | 37.3 | -28.9 |
| | Independent Labor | Clifford Banks | 618 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
| | Socialist Labor | Ernie Judd | 180 | 0.3 | +0.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 54,359 | 97.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,169 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,528 | 95.7 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Ind. Nationalist | Billy Hughes | | 66.1 | +66.1 |
| | Nationalist | Lewis Nott | | 33.9 | -32.3 |
| | Ind. Nationalist gain from Nationalist | Ind. Nationalist gain from Nationalist | Swing | +32.3 | |

#### 1931

1931 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 22,317 | 40.8 | +1.3 |
| | United Australia | Norman Cowper | 19,724 | 36.0 | +36.0 |
| | Labor (NSW) | Norman Nelson | 12,696 | 23.2 | +23.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 54,737 | 98.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 920 | 1.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,657 | 94.2 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | | 57.5 | +23.6 |
| | United Australia | Norman Cowper | | 42.5 | +42.5 |
| | United Australia gain from Independent | United Australia gain from Independent | Swing | +23.6 | |

#### 1934

1934 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 35,532 | 65.1 | -12.2 |
| | Labor (NSW) | Stan Taylor | 12,684 | 23.2 | +0.6 |
| | Social Credit | Vincent Kelly | 6,385 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 54,601 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,112 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,713 | 96.0 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | | 71.0 | +13.5 |
| | Labor (NSW) | Stan Taylor | | 29.0 | +29.0 |
| | United Australia hold | United Australia hold | Swing | +13.5 | |

#### 1937

1937 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 38,386 | 65.9 | +0.8 |
| | Labor | Henry Clayden | 16,254 | 27.9 | +27.9 |
| | Social Credit | Percival Minahan | 3,568 | 6.1 | -5.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 58,208 | 97.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,344 | 2.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,552 | 97.2 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | | 69.0 | -2.0 |
| | Labor | Henry Clayden | | 31.0 | +31.0 |
| | United Australia hold | United Australia hold | Swing | -2.0 | |

#### 1940

1940 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 38,381 | 61.3 | -4.6 |
| | State Labor | William Wilson | 10,965 | 17.5 | +17.5 |
| | Labor | James Dooley | 9,704 | 15.5 | -12.4 |
| | Labor (N-C) | John Steel | 3,526 | 5.6 | +5.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 62,576 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,170 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,746 | 95.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | | 67.6 | -1.4 |
| | State Labor | William Wilson | | 32.4 | +32.4 |
| | United Australia hold | United Australia hold | Swing | -1.4 | |

#### 1943

1943 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 29,962 | 44.1 | -17.2 |
| | Labor | Leo Haylen | 24,989 | 35.7 | +20.2 |
| | Independent | Patrick Williams | 6,132 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| | Independent | Eric Bentley | 3,349 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Communist | Jack Miles | 2,821 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| | One Parliament | Jack Lewis | 938 | 1.4 | +1.4 |
| | Independent | Oliver Partington | 455 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 67,946 | 95.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,323 | 4.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,269 | 98.4 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 36,066 | 53.1 | -14.5 |
| | Labor | Leo Haylen | 31,880 | 46.9 | +46.9 |
| | United Australia hold | United Australia hold | Swing | -14.5 | |

#### 1946

1946 Australian federal election: North Sydney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Billy Hughes | 40,845 | 55.9 | +11.8 |
| | Labor | Leo Haylen | 32,247 | 44.1 | +8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 73,092 | 98.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,503 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,595 | 96.1 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.8 | |

### Bradfield
#### 1949

1949 Australian federal election: Bradfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Billy Hughes | 28,428 | 71.4 | −3.8 |
| | Labor | Ken Gee | 8,645 | 21.7 | −3.0 |
| | Independent | Edward Price | 2,764 | 6.9 | +6.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 39,837 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 722 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,559 | 95.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Billy Hughes | | 74.9 | −0.3 |
| | Labor | Ken Gee | | 25.1 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal notional hold | Liberal notional hold | Swing | −0.3 | |

#### 1951

1951 Australian federal election: Bradfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Billy Hughes | 32,469 | 78.7 | +7.3 |
| | Labor | Hugh Milne | 8,784 | 21.3 | −0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 41,253 | 98.2 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 762 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,015 | 95.8 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.8 | |

## Leadership elections
### United Australia Party
#### 1939

1939 United Australia Party leadership election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Australia | Robert Menzies | N/A | | |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | N/A | | |
| | United Australia | Richard Casey | withdrew | | |
| | United Australia | Thomas White | withdrew | | |
| Second ballot result ||||||
| | United Australia | Robert Menzies | 22 | 50.00 | |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 22 | 50.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44 | 100.0 | |
| Final ballot result ||||||
| | United Australia | Robert Menzies | 23 | 54.80 | +4.80 |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 19 | 45.20 | −4.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42 | 95.50 | −4.50 |

#### 1941

1941 United Australia Party leadership election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | ? |
| | United Australia | Allan McDonald | ? |
| | United Australia | Percy Spender | ? |
| Second ballot result ||||||
| | United Australia | Billy Hughes | 16? |
| | United Australia | Allan McDonald | 15? |