Gisele Kapterian, the Liberal candidate, won the Bradfield seat in the 2025 Australian election by a narrow margin, defeating teal independent Nicolette Boele after a week of vote counting. Absentee and postal votes proved crucial in securing Kapterian's victory.
Kapterian, a Salesforce executive, international trade lawyer, and former Liberal staffer, was a late addition to the candidacy, securing the seat after the retirement of Paul Fletcher. Her preselection was opposed by Angus Taylor, who supported Warren Mundine.
Bradfield's result is noteworthy because it was the only Liberal-held seat to vote 'yes' in the recent referendum. Kapterian's win, despite the Coalition's overall loss, highlights complexities within the political landscape. Her win also puts another Armenian-Australian MP in Parliament, alongside Tim Wilson.
The Liberal Party has managed to hold the once blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield on Sydney’s north shore, with Gisele Kapterian just edging out teal Nicolette Boele after more than a week of counting.
Kapterian is expected to join the federal party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday, where MPs will vote to choose a new leader after former leader Peter Dutton was ousted from parliament.
One of the leadership hopefuls, Angus Taylor, opposed Kapterian’s preselection, instead supporting anti-Voice campaigner Warren Mundine, despite Bradfield being the only Liberal-held seat in the country to vote yes in the referendum.
Absentee and postal votes ultimately favoured Kapterian, which pushed her ahead of Boele despite the independent being marginally ahead on election night.
Kapterian, a Salesforce executive, international trade lawyer and former Liberal staffer, was hastily installed as the candidate late last year after securing the backing of former premier Gladys Berejiklian and former federal treasurer Joe Hockey.
She beat Mundine for preselection for Bradfield, despite Mundine having the backing of Taylor and former prime minister Tony Abbott.
Former Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher surprised colleagues by announcing his retirement in early December, leaving Kapterian less than five months to campaign in the seat. She had expected to run in North Sydney, but it was abolished in the redistribution of boundaries.
Kapterian, who has Armenian heritage, will be joined in the party room by fellow Armenian Tim Wilson, a moderate who unseated teal Zoe Daniel.
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