Candidates are listed in order of their electorates.
Endorsed Candidates
Mikaela Stafrace for Caulfield
Sonny Stephens for Gippsland East
Alessandra Soliven for Pakenham
Rebecca Thistleton for South Barwon
Julie Buxton for Bayswater
Julie Buxton is a local mum and small business owner who knows how to get things done.
With her family business based in Bayswater and more than a decade running her own business, Julie knows the pressures facing local families and businesses. She knows how important it is to support local jobs and strengthen our schools and health services for working families.
Labor has delivered record funding for our local schools, is upgrading the Angliss Hospital, has removed every level crossing on the Belgrave line from Ferntree Gully to the city and is helping with the cost living - with free-PT for under 18s and making it easier and cheaper to get prescriptions at the chemist.
But Julie knows there’s more to do - she will follow in Jackson Taylor’s footsteps and continue to deliver for Knox.
Julie Buxton will be a strong voice for Bayswater.
Mikaela Stafrace for Caulfield
Mikaela is a proud Jewish woman, a Caulfield local, mum and grandmother who has spent her life fighting for opportunity.
Having lived in the community for nearly two decades, Mikaela knows Caulfield well - a place that values education, hard work and looking out for one another.
Mikaela has a strong record of delivering. After a successful legal career, she moved into the not-for-profit sector to give back. She founded a not-for-profit that helps vulnerable women access jobs through TAFE - because education creates opportunity.
Her drive comes from lived experience. At 15, Mikaela left home to escape family violence. She worked two jobs to finish school, becoming the first in her family to graduate high school and university.
Education changed her life.
That’s why Mikaela is passionate about ensuring every family can access quality education and healthcare. She knows Labor’s investments - from free kinder and free TAFE to virtual Emergency Department and Labor’s Urgent Care Clinics are making a real difference.
Mikaela Stafrace is an experienced leader who will deliver for Caulfield.
Kat Theodosis for Essendon
Essendon is an area that Kat is deeply connected to. It’s where she went to school - at Strathmore Secondary College - and calls home.
As a lifelong local of Melbourne’s North-West, she’s ready to fight for her community.
She’s the proud daughter of Greek migrants. Her dad was a mechanic, her mum a teacher, and they worked hard to build a better life for her and her family.
Kat is running because she knows that only Labor governments stand up for working families.
Only Labor governments believe in investing in schools, hospitals and community infrastructure. Services that so many families in Essendon rely on.
Kat is ready to give back to the community that has given her so much.
Kat Theodosis will always fight for Essendon.
Sonny Stephens for Gippsland East
A Cowwarr local, Australian Army Veteran and farmer, Sonny has decades of experience living and working throughout the Gippsland region.
Having worked across the public and private health sectors, as well as in welfare and social support, Sonny is aware of the unique pressures faced by those who live in our regions.
Sonny intends to keenly represent those who live and work in Gippsland, with a focus on aiding small business owners.
Tracie Lund for Morwell
Tracie is a local mum who understands the day-to-day pressures families face. After choosing to raise her family in the Latrobe Valley, she knows how important it is to have secure jobs, good services and real opportunities close to home.
She’s lived in the community since 2011, building a life with her late husband Simon, a proud CFA volunteer who spent 26 years serving others. His commitment to the community is something Tracie carries with her every day.
Tracie has delivered for her community - managing Morwell Neighbourhood House and helping people through tough times. As a former Latrobe City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, she’s focused on practical outcomes and making sure local voices are heard.
She’s running for Labor because Morwell deserves a strong local voice in government – someone who knows the community and will speak up for it. The Victorian Labor Government has already delivered for the Latrobe Valley, with investment in Latrobe Regional Health, Gippsland TAFE and upgrades to the Strzelecki Highway.
But Tracie knows that there’s more to do - protecting work from home, delivering 20% rego, and more jobs in the region.
Tracie Lund will be a strong local voice and fight for Morwell.
Jannette Langley for Narracan
Jannette Langley is a proud Drouin local who has dedicated her career to helping people and making sure they get the support they need.
As a public servant, Jannette has helped people navigate government services and access the support they need. Today, she works as a personal care assistant, supporting people in her community and seeing firsthand the challenges local families face.
Jannette chose to make this community her home, living in Yarragon before settling in Drouin. She believes regional communities like Narracan deserve a strong voice and their fair share of investment in the services and opportunities local families rely on.
Jannette will be a strong local voice for Narracan, listening to the community, standing up for local families and making sure no one is left behind.
Alessandra Soliven for Pakenham
Alessandra Soliven is a proud Pakenham local determined to stand up for working people and families.
After migrating from the Philippines with her family, she settled in Melbourne’s outer southeastern suburbs. Her upbringing has instilled the values of hard work, aspiration and community.
As the daughter of a nurse, Alessandra knows how vital it is for local families to have accessible, high-quality healthcare having seen firsthand the long hours and the tough work our nurses go through every day.
Alessandra is determined to back better schools, more nurses and more secure jobs – so every family in Pakenham has the chance to get ahead.
Alessandra Soliven will fight for Pakenham.
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Hutch Hussein for Polwarth
Hutch is a local mum raising her two young sons on the coast.
With a career as a social worker, advocate, and Deputy CEO, Hutch has spent her life supporting young people, helping those experiencing family violence and standing up for those doing it tough.
And as a mum with a mortgage, Hutch knows the pressures families are currently facing every day. She knows how important it is to have access to quality local schools, great healthcare and secure job opportunities close to home.
Hutch wants to build from what the Victorian Labor government delivered - investing into local schools in Colac West, Cobden, Torquay, Anglesea and Lismore, as well as Colac Area Health.
But Hutch knows there’s more to do - delivering work from home to save people money and time, and making life easier for working people and families.
Hutch Hussein will fight for Polwarth.
Sarah McKenzie for Richmond
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Sarah McKenzie is Labor’s candidate for Richmond - a local who will show up, listen and deliver.
Raised in inner-city Melbourne, Sarah has dedicated her career to tackling inequality and building stronger communities.
As a Yarra councillor, she’s pushed Council to focus on the issues that matter most to residents. As the policy director of an independent think-tank, she’s worked on solutions that make life more affordable and Australia more equal.
And as a renter in Richmond, she knows firsthand the cost-of-living pressures facing local households.
As your local Labor MP, she’ll show up, she’ll listen, and she’ll deliver for Richmond.
Rachel Halse for Ringwood
Rachel Halse is a local mum and local emergency nurse.
As a mum with a mortgage, Rachel understands the pressures working people and families are under. She knows how much free kinder, free public transport for under 18s, and the power saving bonuses have helped households.
But she knows there's more to do.
As a frontline nurse, Rachel has spent years putting people first. She knows that quality, accessible healthcare is vital for working people and families.
Rachel will continue to fight for the best services for Ringwood.
Cayla Fin for Shepparton
Cayla Fin is a community advocate, leading professional at her local TAFE, and proud rural Victorian who lives in Dookie with her wife Heidi.
Having chosen to make the Goulburn Valley home, Calya understands the challenges facing local families - including the need for strong local services.
Cayla’s commitment to local and accessible healthcare is deeply personal. After battling breast cancer, she knows how important it is to have quality care close to home. Raised by a mum who worked as an intensive care nurse in the public health system, Cayla has always understood the value of healthcare workers, but her own experience brought home just how important a strong and accessible health system is for families and communities.
She knows that rural and regional communities deserve the same opportunities as anywhere else in Victoria, and only Labor will deliver.
Cayla chose to make Shepparton home. And now she’ll fight for it.
Rebecca Thistleton for South Barwon
Rebecca Thistleton is a proud Armstrong Creek local, where she and her husband are raising their two young children.
A former journalist, Rebecca began her career in community newspapers. She now leads the McKell Institute in Victoria, a think tank focused on economic opportunities, fairness for workers, and reaching better health and education outcomes through practical policy.
Rebecca knows that families like hers need quality schools, accessible healthcare, and services that grow with the community.
South Barwon is growing fast. Rebecca Thistleton is ready to be the strong local voice families deserve in State Parliament.