Will Fowles bows out of Ringwood, setting up major party fight for the seat

With the electorate now free for the taking, Labor and the Liberals will fight to reclaim it come November 28.

Author

Matthew Sims
July 28, 2026

Independent MP Will Fowles will not recontest Ringwood at the November state election, solidifying the race for the seat as a key major party battleground.

How’d we get here? Fowles was first elected as Labor MP for Burwood in 2018 before moving to Ringwood in 2022, where he retained the seat for Labor with a 7.53 percent margin.

  • He resigned from Labor in 2023 following allegations of sexual assault and has since represented Ringwood as an independent. Victoria Police arrested and interviewed Fowles before releasing him without charges. He has consistently denied the allegations.

  • In a statement released on Tuesday after being approached by the Eastern Melburnian, Fowles said he would not recontest in the upcoming election, and that the decision followed “deep reflection”. Fowles added “baseless allegations” had impacted his ability to represent constituents.

Meet the Whitehorse councillor and government economist endorsed to run as independents in the state election

Voices of Deakin has announced its candidates in the November race in two battleground seats.

⏭️ What’s next? With Fowles out of the race, Labor and the Liberals will now fight to reclaim the seat come November 28, with Labor’s Rachel Halse and Liberal North-Eastern Metropolitan MLC Nick McGowan already announced as candidates.

  • Other candidates include Voices of Deakin’s independent Prue Cutts, Greens candidate Amy Mills and Victorian Socialists contender Jack Gardiner.

  • More candidates, including a likely One Nation contender, may be announced in the coming months.