The electoral contest in Churchlands, Western Australia’s most marginal seat, is intensifying as prominent candidates Basil Zempilas, Lisa Thornton and Christine Tonkin vie for victory. The competition is marked by visible campaign signage from Zempilas, the Liberal candidate and Thornton, the community independent, while Labor incumbent Tonkin downplays the importance of signs.

"You don't win elections with signs," said Tonkin, rejecting claims that Labor has conceded defeat. She expressed confidence in increasing her slim 1.6 per cent margin, citing voter backlash against Zempilas’ prominent signage. "It's quite interesting, the more signs that Mr Zempilas puts up the more volunteers I get coming to my office saying they want to vote for me. All those signs remind them of what Mr Zempilas represents."

Zempilas, a media personality and Perth Lord Mayor, aims to engage with as many residents as possible, despite perceptions that he may use the seat as a springboard for state leadership. "I think I can win," he stated, while acknowledging the race will be competitive. "I don't take it for granted. I'm working right until the line, and that is what is expected of every candidate. It will be tight. Labor have thrown the kitchen sink at me."

Zempilas’s polarising reputation stems partly from past comments about transgender individuals, for which he later apologised. However, some voters, like resident Libby Byers, remain unconvinced. "If he's not going to be accepting of all communities, then he shouldn't be a leader of one," Byers remarked.

Thornton, a City of Stirling councillor, aims to build on the success of federal independent Kate Chaney in the neighbouring Curtin electorate. "If you have a look at the polling figures, Kate Chaney did the best in the Churchlands electorate," Thornton noted. "So that's something we're hoping to build upon." Her campaign focuses on political integrity, climate action, cost of living, and community-led development. 

While Tonkin and Zempilas both downplay Thornton’s chances, former Churchlands independent MP Liz Constable believes the electorate’s history of embracing change could favour Thornton. "It's a very experienced electorate, it's seen change, it likes change, it votes for change and [has] very thoughtful voters," Constable observed. "I think almost anything can happen in this election. If the independent can get more primary votes than the Labor candidate and get the Labor preferences, then the independent, Lisa, has a lot of opportunity here."

Thornton’s strategy hinges on securing between a quarter and a third of the primary vote, bolstered by preferences from both Labor and Liberal supporters. With Churchlands’ history of supporting independents and the electorate’s openness to change, Thornton remains quietly confident as the campaign progresses.