Published on April 26, 2022 at 17:19
1883 ElectionThe 1886 General Election was the seventh general election to the Ivonian Parliament. The two-term Dominion Party Government, led by James Sadler, sought re-election against the Country Party led by Harvey Harris. The Dominion Party had won a clear majority in the previous election, and it was believed by many that they would therefore be able to easily retain government regardless of any swing in this election. For their part, the Country Party would have needed a swing of 4.2% in order to win back government. The Prime Minister visited the Governor-General on November 15 to request dissolution of Parliament, and the election was set for December 20th.
The campaign was a quiet affair for the Dominion Party, as it was clear that they would be able to hold onto government. The primary focus of the Sadler Governemnt's campaign was a pledge to "keep the course" and continue the party's plan for infrastructure construction and urban investment. This stood in sharp contrast to the Country Party campaign. Harvey Harris carried forward his message railing against the urban elitism of the Dominion Party, and called for the protection of the rural way of life. His uncompromising stance and lack of general charisma did not go over well with voters, and the Whitaker Herald survey clearly showed this. The survey indicated a favorability rating of 65% for the Dominion Party, but only 31% for the Country Party. Weakened by two successive election defeats, the mood was dark in the Country Party heading into the election.
The results were a disaster for the Country Party. They suffered a swing of 3.1% against them nationally, which was enough for the Dominion Party to flip four seats on their way to 19 parliamentary seats. Only two seats in Southshore were left with the Country Party - Harvey Harris' seat of South Country as well as the neighboring seat of South Coast. James Sadler's own margin approached thirty percent, as he won 79% of the vote in his seat of Outer North Bay. With the result not really in doubt, Sadler went to the Governor-General on the night of the election count itself to receive his commission, becoming the first Prime Minister to win re-election twice. He faced Parliament for the first time on January 3, 1887.
The Country Party was left surveying the wreckage after the election. Harvey Harris' re-election in his own seat allowed him to continue to as the parliamentary leader of the party, but there was substantial discontent at the direction he had taken the party under his leadership. The party would need a swing of nearly 7.3% in order to win government, and there were doubts if this could even be done across two elections. Harris remained as the leader of the party, but there were suggestions that differently minded individuals should break away and form their own party free from his influence.
| Party | Votes | Votes % | Seats | Seats % | Votes Δ | Votes % Δ | Seats Δ | Seats % Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion | 1,135,332 | 58.29% | 19 | 90.48% | 60,760 | 3.12% | 4 | 19.05% |
| Country | 812,472 | 41.71% | 2 | 9.52% | -60,650 | -3.12% | -4 | -19.05% |
| Seat | Winner | Previous Winner | Swing Required | Two-Party Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Henry | Dominion | Country | 1.51% | 3.22% |
| Sedgwick | Dominion | Country | 0.15% | 3.38% |
| Upper Coast | Dominion | Country | 2.45% | 3.23% |
| Whitaker Outer | Dominion | Country | 2.82% | 3.15% |
| Seat | Province | Current Holder | Raw Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitaker Outer | Southshore | Dominion | 0.66% |
| Upper Coast | Westmoreland | Dominion | 1.56% |
| Port Henry | Westmoreland | Dominion | 3.43% |
| Sedgwick | Southshore | Dominion | 6.46% |
| Madison | Westmoreland | Dominion | 8.93% |
| Fort William | New Anglia | Dominion | 12.26% |
| Outer Anglia | New Anglia | Dominion | 14.20% |
| Northampton | North Bay | Dominion | 14.46% |
| Westgate Centre | Westmoreland | Dominion | 14.48% |
| York Country | South Yorkshire | Dominion | 16.34% |
| South York | South Yorkshire | Dominion | 16.59% |
| Whitaker Centre | Southshore | Dominion | 18.69% |
| Stanton | Westmoreland | Dominion | 25.78% |
| Port of Whitaker | Southshore | Dominion | 25.95% |
| Princeton | South Yorkshire | Dominion | 27.20% |
| Salem | South Yorkshire | Dominion | 29.71% |
| Port Elizabeth | North Bay | Dominion | 35.45% |
| Lakeville | Westmoreland | Dominion | 36.43% |
| Outer North Bay | North Bay | Dominion | 58.25% |
| Seat | Province | Current Holder | Raw Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Coast | Southshore | Country | 4.29% |
| South Country | Southshore | Country | 5.19% |
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 38,138 | 56.13% | 35,947 | 52.91% | 3.22% |
| Country | 29,805 | 43.87% | 31,996 | 47.09% | -3.22% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Fort William, after winning 56.13% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.22%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 12.26%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 50,751 | 57.10% | 48,150 | 54.18% | 2.93% |
| Country | 38,128 | 42.90% | 40,728 | 45.82% | -2.93% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Outer Anglia, after winning 57.10% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 2.93%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 14.20%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 67,335 | 57.23% | 63,250 | 53.76% | 3.47% |
| Country | 50,317 | 42.77% | 54,404 | 46.24% | -3.47% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Northampton, after winning 57.23% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.47%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 14.46%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 69,483 | 79.12% | 67,204 | 76.61% | 2.52% |
| Country | 18,332 | 20.88% | 20,522 | 23.39% | -2.52% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Outer North Bay, after winning 79.12% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 2.52%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 58.25%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 59,493 | 67.73% | 56,971 | 64.85% | 2.87% |
| Country | 28,350 | 32.27% | 30,876 | 35.15% | -2.87% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Port Elizabeth, after winning 67.73% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 2.87%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 35.45%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 78,437 | 63.60% | 74,688 | 60.56% | 3.04% |
| Country | 44,888 | 36.40% | 48,632 | 39.44% | -3.04% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Princeton, after winning 63.60% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.04%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 27.20%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 47,033 | 64.86% | 44,912 | 61.93% | 2.92% |
| Country | 25,485 | 35.14% | 27,604 | 38.07% | -2.92% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Salem, after winning 64.86% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 2.92%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 29.71%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 49,574 | 58.29% | 46,860 | 55.10% | 3.19% |
| Country | 35,467 | 41.71% | 38,179 | 44.90% | -3.19% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of South York, after winning 58.29% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.19%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 16.59%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 65,901 | 58.17% | 62,447 | 55.12% | 3.05% |
| Country | 47,388 | 41.83% | 50,843 | 44.88% | -3.05% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of York Country, after winning 58.17% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.05%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 16.34%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 65,454 | 62.97% | 62,299 | 59.94% | 3.04% |
| Country | 38,485 | 37.03% | 41,640 | 40.06% | -3.04% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Port of Whitaker, after winning 62.97% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.04%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 25.95%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion | 51,322 | 53.23% | 48,060 | 49.85% | 3.38% |
| Country* | 45,094 | 46.77% | 48,354 | 50.15% | -3.38% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Sedgwick, after winning 53.23% of the vote. They gained the seat from the Country Party after a two-party swing of 3.38%. This was enough to exceed the required two-party swing of 0.15%; the seat now sits on a raw margin of 6.46%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country* | 44,672 | 52.15% | 47,126 | 55.01% | -2.87% |
| Dominion | 40,994 | 47.85% | 38,537 | 44.99% | 2.87% |
The Country Party won the seat of South Coast, after winning 52.15% of the vote. They held the seat despite a fall in their share of the vote by 2.87%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 4.29%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country* | 53,178 | 52.59% | 56,578 | 55.96% | -3.36% |
| Dominion | 47,932 | 47.41% | 44,534 | 44.04% | 3.36% |
The Country Party won the seat of South Country, after winning 52.59% of the vote. They held the seat despite a fall in their share of the vote by 3.36%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 5.19%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 64,006 | 59.34% | 60,657 | 56.24% | 3.11% |
| Country | 43,852 | 40.66% | 47,203 | 43.76% | -3.11% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Whitaker Centre, after winning 59.34% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.11%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 18.69%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion | 42,025 | 50.33% | 39,396 | 47.18% | 3.15% |
| Country* | 41,473 | 49.67% | 44,098 | 52.82% | -3.15% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Whitaker Outer, after winning 50.33% of the vote. They gained the seat from the Country Party after a two-party swing of 3.15%. This was enough to exceed the required two-party swing of 2.82%; the seat now sits on a raw margin of 0.66%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 47,172 | 68.22% | 44,867 | 64.88% | 3.33% |
| Country | 21,978 | 31.78% | 24,284 | 35.12% | -3.33% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Lakeville, after winning 68.22% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.33%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 36.43%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 32,544 | 54.46% | 30,791 | 51.53% | 2.93% |
| Country | 27,210 | 45.54% | 28,961 | 48.47% | -2.93% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Madison, after winning 54.46% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 2.93%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 8.93%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion | 57,966 | 51.72% | 54,352 | 48.49% | 3.22% |
| Country* | 54,120 | 48.28% | 57,730 | 51.51% | -3.22% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Port Henry, after winning 51.72% of the vote. They gained the seat from the Country Party after a two-party swing of 3.22%. This was enough to exceed the required two-party swing of 1.51%; the seat now sits on a raw margin of 3.43%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 43,672 | 62.89% | 41,420 | 59.66% | 3.23% |
| Country | 25,769 | 37.11% | 28,010 | 40.34% | -3.23% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Stanton, after winning 62.89% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.23%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 25.78%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion | 52,876 | 50.78% | 49,514 | 47.55% | 3.23% |
| Country* | 51,248 | 49.22% | 54,614 | 52.45% | -3.23% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Upper Coast, after winning 50.78% of the vote. They gained the seat from the Country Party after a two-party swing of 3.23%. This was enough to exceed the required two-party swing of 2.45%; the seat now sits on a raw margin of 1.56%.
| Party | Votes | Percent | Previous Votes | Previous Percent | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion* | 63,224 | 57.24% | 59,716 | 54.06% | 3.18% |
| Country | 47,233 | 42.76% | 50,740 | 45.94% | -3.18% |
The Dominion Party won the seat of Westgate Centre, after winning 57.24% of the vote. They held the seat and saw their share of the vote increase by 3.18%. The seat now sits on a raw margin of 14.48%.