Moonee Valley City councillor for Queens Park Ward and the council's deputy mayor, who was mayor in the first year of the current council term. A lifelong Moonee Valley resident, running for Essendon as an independent; the council's register lists no party membership.
Victorian state election · Legislative Assembly
Essendon
A Legislative Assembly district in the Northern Metropolitan region. Election day is Saturday 28 November 2026.
Current member
Danny Pearson, Australian Labor PartyNot among the candidates announced so far for 2026. The list may be incomplete; this doesn't mean they're retiring.
Candidates
Who's running
7 candidates have been announced or preselected for Essendon, listed by surname. The VEC draws ballot order and publishes the official list after nominations close at 12 noon on 9 November.
Candidate list: Tally Room 2026 seat guide, checked 5 Nov 2026. Each candidate has a profile, written by this site from the sources listed with it.
Moonee Valley City councillor for Buckley Ward, elected in 2024, and a former AFL ruckman who played in Essendon's 2000 premiership side after eight seasons at Geelong. Joined One Nation in August 2026, according to the council's register of party memberships.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (4)
Lives and works in Essendon, in financial services and part time at the Laurel Hotel in Ascot Vale. Ran for Moonee Valley City Council in Woodlands Ward in 2024, listed as an independent Liberal; the party's profile describes a renter raised in a small-business family.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (2)
A community lawyer who helps people challenge police and other government authorities, and a unionist who campaigned for better pay and conditions in the community sector. By their own account, they helped organise community-sector strikes in support of Gaza. Lives locally.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (1)
Merri-bek City councillor for Westbreen Ward, elected in 2024. She went to school at Strathmore Secondary College and describes herself as the daughter of Greek migrants and a lifelong local of Melbourne's north-west.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (2)
A Wakka Wakka man from south-east Queensland who has lived in Moonee Valley for almost 20 years, where his children went to local schools. He works as an emergency services officer, and previously worked as a computer engineer and ICT manager for a not-for-profit organisation. He is a member of the Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (1)
Merri-bek City councillor for Pascoe Vale South Ward, first elected in 2008 when the council was still called Moreland. Has twice been mayor and has also served as deputy mayor, and describes a background in teaching and business. Ran for Pascoe Vale as an independent at the 2018 state election, finishing second with 41.4% after preferences.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (4)
Voting
How to vote in Essendon
Two ballot papers
Lower house (Legislative Assembly): you choose the member for Essendon, from the candidates above.
Upper house (Legislative Council): you help elect the five members for the Northern Metropolitan Region.
When and where
- Early voting: Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 November
- Election day: Saturday 28 November
How-to-vote cards
Parties and candidates hand out cards showing the order they suggest. They're only suggestions: you can number the boxes in any order you choose. The VEC publishes every registered card on its website.
Filling in your ballot papers
Lower house: On the smaller lower house ballot paper, you need to number every box in the order of your choice.
Upper house: On the larger upper house ballot paper, you can choose to vote above the line or below the line. Whether you choose to vote above the line or below the line, you need to number at least one to five in your order of choice for your vote to count.
Use numbers only, no ticks or crosses. (Source: VEC)
Group voting tickets have been abolished for the upper house, so its ballot paper works differently from 2022. Check the VEC's guide even if you've voted before. (Source: Proportional Representation Society)
Instructions are quoted from the Victorian Electoral Commission, checked 5 Nov 2026.
Your state member
Contact Danny Pearson
- Electorate office
- Suite 1, 28 Shuter Street, Moonee Ponds, VIC, 3039
- Postal address
- PO Box 605, Moonee Ponds, VIC, 3039
- Phone
- 03 9370 7777
- danny.pearson@parliament.vic.gov.au
- Online
- WebsiteFacebookX (Twitter)
Source: Parliament of Victoria, updated 28 Aug 2026.