Just minutes after NSW Liberal leader Mike Baird claimed victory as the returning NSW Premier, Queanbeyan's Nationals candidate John Barilaro stopped just shy of claimingvictory in the mini-bellwether seat of Monaro.
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Speaking at the Queanbeyan Kangaroos Club amid a host of supporters, Mr Barilaro said he wasn't going to claim victory until the count was finalised.
"I am not going to declare yet... we are not arrogant," Mr Barilaro told his supporters. "Over the last six months we've had to ramp up the campaign, it's been a tough campaign."
"I look forward to serving [the Monaro electorate] again for another four years."
Earlier in the evening, Country Labor candidate Steve Whan appeared to make a concession speech to his vibrant contingent situated across town at the Queanbeyan Leagues Club.
"I have to say in all honesty it doesn't look fantastic at the moment," he began.
"But it's not over. As usual with this seat, we will have to wait for the pre poll results to be counted."
More than 53,000 people are enrolled to vote in the Monaro electorate, with around 8000 pre poll votes expected to be added to the count on Sunday morning.
Primary results were in favour of the incumbent member Mr Barilaro, who held 48.61 per cent of the primary vote late on Saturday night, with Mr Whan holding 40.87 per cent.
Mr Whan said he was proud of the campaign Labor waged across the Monaro.
"We've put ourselves out there... we've been upfront about our policies, and we've sold them really hard."
"We ran a grassroots campaign that I think we can be proud of, regardless the result."
Monaro returning officer Brian Eagles had a team of five counting the pre-polling votes due to be added to the tally on Sunday morning.
"The Monaro pre-poll polling place will influence the outcome of the Monaro seat," Mr Eaglessaid, keeping tight-lipped on the progress so far.
"The pre-poll votes are approximately 25 per cent of the votes in the Monaro district."
Surrounded by his team of yellow-shirted volunteers, as well as his mother, father, wife and two daughters, Mr Barilaro took up a chair at the Queanbeyan Kangaroos Club.
"It's been a long day and a long campaign," he said.
In reference to his family, he said, "looks like we've got another victory up our sleeves".
