# Electoral results for the district of Canning

This is a list of electoral results for the Electoral district of Canning in Western Australian state elections.

## Members for Canning

Canning (1897–1901) :
| Member | Member | Party | Term |
| | Frank Wilson | Oppositionist | 1897–1901 |
| Canning (1904–1989) ||||
| | William Gordon | Ministerial | 1904–1911 |
| | Charles Lewis | Labor | 1911–1914 |
| | Robert Robinson | Liberal | 1914–1917 |
| | Robert Robinson | Nationalist | 1917–1921 |
| | Alec Clydesdale | Labor | 1921–1930 |
| | Herbert Wells | Nationalist | 1930–1933 |
| | Charles Cross | Labor | 1933–1947 |
| | George Yates | Liberal | 1947–1949 |
| | George Yates | LCL | 1949–1950 |
| | Arthur Griffith | LCL | 1950–1953 |
| | Colin Jamieson | Labor | 1953–1956 |
| | William Gaffy | Labor | 1956–1959 |
| | Des O'Neil | LCL | 1959–1962 |
| | Don May | Labor | 1962–1965 |
| | Ross Elliott | LCL | 1965–1968 |
| | Tom Bateman | Labor | 1968–1986 |
| | Judyth Watson | Labor | 1986–1989 |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1980s

1986 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Judyth Watson | 11,365 | 65.8 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | Elkin Conway | 5,918 | 34.2 | -0.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,283 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 575 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,858 | 91.5 | +4.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
1983 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 9,512 | 65.6 |
| | Liberal | John Nagle | 4,980 | 34.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,492 | 96.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 480 | 3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,972 | 87.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
1980 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 10,025 | 58.5 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal | Jack Courtis | 7,109 | 41.5 | -5.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,134 | 96.2 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 675 | 3.8 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,809 | 88.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +5.4 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1977 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 7,686 | 53.1 |
| | Liberal | Richard Shellabear | 6,800 | 46.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,486 | 96.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 524 | 3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,010 | 90.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -4.5 |
1974 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 10,283 | 54.6 |
| | Liberal | John Sinclair | 7,145 | 37.9 |
| | National Alliance | Paul Clune | 1,010 | 5.4 |
| | Australia | Robert Russell-Brown | 394 | 2.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,832 | 96.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 725 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,557 | 91.5 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 10,582 | 56.2 |
| | Liberal | John Sinclair | 8,250 | 43.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
1971 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 10,602 | 55.4 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | Neil Charles | 6,800 | 35.6 | -8.9 |
| | Democratic Labor | Bill Wallace | 1,228 | 6.4 | +2.5 |
| | Independent | Victor Hawtin | 494 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 19,124 | 96.8 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 621 | 3.2 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,745 | 92.5 | −0.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 11,206 | 58.6 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal | Neil Charles | 7,918 | 41.4 | -8.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +8.1 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1968 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 6,185 | 48.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ross Elliott | 5,683 | 44.5 |
| | Democratic Labor | Lydia Obbes | 498 | 3.9 |
| | Independent | Melford Roe | 397 | 3.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,763 | 96.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 485 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,248 | 92.8 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Tom Bateman | 6,441 | 50.5 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ross Elliott | 6,322 | 49.5 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | |
1965 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Don May | 4,972 | 48.3 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal and Country | Ross Elliott | 4,890 | 47.5 | +8.4 |
| | Democratic Labor | Louis Raven | 434 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,296 | 96.9 | −1.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 325 | 3.1 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,621 | 92.9 | −1.5 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Ross Elliott | 5,221 | 50.7 | +1.9 |
| | Labor | Don May | 5,075 | 49.3 | -1.9 |
| | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Swing | +1.9 | |
1962 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Donald May | 4,206 | 47.4 |
| | Liberal and Country | Raymond Richardson | 3,472 | 39.1 |
| | Country | Arthur Mills | 1,193 | 13.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,871 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 146 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,017 | 94.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Donald May | 4,527 | 51.0 |
| | Liberal and Country | Raymond Richardson | 4,344 | 49.0 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1959 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal and Country | Des O'Neil | 6,514 | 51.0 | +2.1 |
| | Labor | Bill Gaffy | 5,161 | 40.4 | -10.7 |
| | Democratic Labor | Michael O'Brien | 1,087 | 8.5 | +8.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,762 | 98.6 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 178 | 1.4 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,940 | 93.4 | −0.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Des O'Neil | | 58.2 | +9.3 |
| | Labor | Bill Gaffy | | 41.8 | -9.3 |
| | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Swing | +9.3 | |
* Two party preferred vote was estimated.
1956 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Bill Gaffy | 4,825 | 51.1 |
| | Liberal and Country | Richard Marris | 4,615 | 48.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,440 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 157 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,597 | 93.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
1953 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Colin Jamieson | 6,344 | 51.3 | +6.0 |
| | Liberal and Country | Arthur Griffith | 6,022 | 48.7 | +1.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,366 | 97.5 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 312 | 2.5 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,678 | 93.8 | +2.9 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Labor gain from Liberal and Country | Swing | +4.1 | |
1950 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal and Country | Arthur Griffith | 3,793 | 46.8 |
| | Labor | Alfred Reynolds | 3,669 | 45.3 |
| | Independent Country | Carlyle Ferguson | 639 | 7.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,101 | 97.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 197 | 2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,298 | 90.9 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal and Country | Arthur Griffith | 4,274 | 52.8 |
| | Labor | Alfred Reynolds | 3,827 | 47.2 |
| | Liberal and Country hold | Liberal and Country hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1947 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Yates | 7,278 | 56.0 | +25.6 |
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 5,714 | 44.0 | -6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,992 | 96.9 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 388 | 3.1 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,380 | 87.1 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal gain from Labor | Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |
1943 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 5,636 | 50.1 | +5.1 |
| | Nationalist | Arthur Bishop | 3,421 | 30.4 | -3.2 |
| | Independent | Carlyle Ferguson | 1,583 | 14.1 | -7.3 |
| | Independent | William Herbert | 608 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,248 | 96.7 | −2.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 386 | 3.3 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,634 | 88.5 | −4.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Elections in the 1930s

1939 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 4,692 | 45.0 | -3.6 |
| | Nationalist | Frederick Aberle | 3,511 | 33.6 | +10.5 |
| | Independent | Carlyle Ferguson | 2,230 | 21.4 | +10.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,433 | 98.7 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 140 | 1.3 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,573 | 92.8 | +21.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 5,529 | 53.0 | |
| | Nationalist | Frederick Aberle | 4,904 | 47.0 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
1936 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 3,299 | 48.6 | +3.5 |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 1,567 | 23.1 | +0.6 |
| | Nationalist | Thomas Willsmore | 988 | 14.6 | +14.6 |
| | Independent | Carlyle Ferguson | 728 | 10.7 | +10.7 |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Oliver Strang | 201 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,783 | 98.2 | +1.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 125 | 1.8 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,908 | 71.2 | −21.1 |
| After distribution of preferences ||||||
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 3,507 | 51.9 | |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 1,938 | 28.7 | |
| | Nationalist | Thomas Willsmore | 1,312 | 19.4 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |
* Preferences were not distributed to completion.
1933 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 3,560 | 45.1 | -4.1 |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 1,782 | 22.5 | -28.3 |
| | Nationalist | Henry Pilgrim | 1,726 | 21.8 | +21.8 |
| | Country | Leonard Perrin | 834 | 10.6 | +10.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,902 | 96.7 | −2.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 269 | 3.3 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,171 | 92.3 | +19.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Charles Cross | 4,002 | 52.8 | +3.6 |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 3,578 | 47.2 | -3.6 |
| | Labor gain from Nationalist | Labor gain from Nationalist | Swing | +3.6 | |
1930 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 2,967 | 50.8 |
| | Labor | Alexander Clydesdale | 2,875 | 49.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,842 | 99.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 40 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,882 | 73.0 |
| | Nationalist gain from Labor | Nationalist gain from Labor | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1927 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Alexander Clydesdale | 6,815 | 60.0 | -9.8 |
| | Nationalist | Herbert Wells | 4,549 | 40.0 | +9.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,364 | 98.8 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 138 | 1.2 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,502 | 66.3 | +16.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -9.8 | |
1924 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Alec Clydesdale | 3,976 | 69.8 | +21.9 |
| | Nationalist | Peter Wedd | 1,719 | 30.2 | -8.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,695 | 99.3 | +1.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 41 | 0.7 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,736 | 49.7 | −20.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +14.9 | |
1921 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Alexander Clydesdale | 3,213 | 47.9 | +17.7 |
| | Nationalist | Robert Robinson | 2,571 | 38.3 | -31.5 |
| | Independent | Ada Butler | 563 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
| | Independent | Duncan Munro | 364 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,711 | 98.0 | −0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 138 | 2.0 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,849 | 69.7 | +17.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Alexander Clydesdale | 3,687 | 54.9 | +24.7 |
| | Nationalist | Robert Robinson | 3,024 | 45.1 | -24.7 |
| | Labor gain from Nationalist | Labor gain from Nationalist | Swing | +24.7 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

1917 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Robert Robinson | 2,685 | 69.8 | +16.0 |
| | Labor | Donald Cameron | 1,161 | 30.2 | –16.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,846 | 98.6 | –1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 56 | 1.4 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,902 | 52.6 | –26.9 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | +16.0 | |
1914 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Charles Lewis | 2,365 | 46.1 | -6.1 |
| | Liberal | Robert Robinson | 1,578 | 30.7 | +12.5 |
| | Liberal | George Wilson | 841 | 16.4 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Gull | 347 | 6.8 | +6.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,131 | 99.0 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 54 | 1.0 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,185 | 66.7 | −15.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Robert Robinson | 2,624 | 51.1 | |
| | Labor | Charles Lewis | 2,507 | 48.9 | |
| | Liberal gain from Labor | Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |
1911 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Charles Lewis | 1,711 | 52.2 |
| | Ministerialist | Hugh Duncan | 597 | 18.2 |
| | Ministerialist | George Wilson | 502 | 15.3 |
| | Ministerialist | William Gordon | 299 | 9.1 |
| | Ministerialist | Robert McMasters | 168 | 5.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,277 | 99.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 29 | 0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,306 | 81.7 |
| | Labor gain from Ministerialist | Labor gain from Ministerialist | Swing | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Elections in the 1900s

1908 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | William Gordon | 877 | 42.4 | -8.2 |
| | Ministerialist | James Clydesdale | 625 | 30.2 | +30.2 |
| | Ministerialist | George Wilson | 566 | 27.4 | +27.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,068 | 98.7 | −1.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 28 | 1.3 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,096 | 73.9 | +28.9 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Ministerialist | William Gordon | 1,064 | 55.7 | |
| | Ministerialist | James Clydesdale | 846 | 44.3 | |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | N/A | |
1905 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | William Gordon | 643 | 50.6 | +5.3 |
| | Independent | James Milligan | 496 | 39.1 | +14.5 |
| | Ministerialist | Joseph Charles | 131 | 10.3 | +10.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,270 | 99.9 | +1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1 | 0.1 | –1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,271 | 45.0 | –9.0 |
| | Ministerialist hold | Ministerialist hold | Swing | N/A | |
1904 Western Australian state election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ministerialist | William Gordon | 723 | 45.3 | +45.3 |
| | Independent | James Milligan | 392 | 24.6 | +24.6 |
| | Independent | Norman Ewing | 349 | 21.9 | +21.9 |
| | Labour | James Healey | 131 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,595 | 98.9 | n/a |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 17 | 1.1 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,612 | 54.0 | n/a |
| | Ministerialist win | Ministerialist win | (new seat) | (new seat) | (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1890s

1897 Western Australian colonial election: Canning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Opposition | Frank Wilson | 90 | 48.1 |
| | Ministerialist | William Gibbs | 41 | 21.9 |
| | Ministerialist | Edward Rodoreda | 29 | 15.5 |
| | Ind. Ministerialist | William Stubbs | 14 | 7.5 |
| | Opposition | Marinus Canning | 13 | 7.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 187 | 93.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 200 | 62.3 |
| | Opposition hold | Opposition hold | Swing | |