May 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = May 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
| type = parliamentary
| flag_image = 100px
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election
| previous_year = 2018
| election_date = 22 May 2020
| next_election = July 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
| next_year = July 2020
| votes_for_election = 55 members of the parliamentary caucus
| needed_votes = 28
| image1 = Todd Muller (rotated, cropped).jpg
| candidate1 = Todd Muller
| colour1 = 00529F
| popular_vote1 = ≥28
| image2 = 150x150px
| candidate2 = Simon Bridges
| colour2 = 00529F
| popular_vote2 = <28
| title = Leader
| before_election = Simon Bridges
| posttitle = Leader after election
| after_election = Todd Muller
}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = May 2020 New Zealand National Party deputy leadership election
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2018 New Zealand National Party leadership election
| previous_year = 2018
| election_date = 22 May 2020
| next_election = July 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election
| next_year = July 2020
| votes_for_election = 55 members of the parliamentary caucus
| needed_votes = 28
| image1 = 150x150px
| candidate1 = Nikki Kaye
| colour1 = 00529F
| popular_vote1 = ≥28
| image2 = 150x150px
| candidate2 = Paula Bennett
| colour2 = 00529F
| popular_vote2 = <28
| title = Deputy Leader
| before_election = Paula Bennett
| posttitle = Deputy Leader after election
| after_election = Nikki Kaye
}}
An election for the parliamentary leadership of the New Zealand National Party took place in the National Party parliamentary caucus on 22 May 2020. Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye stood against the existing leader Simon Bridges and his deputy leader Paula Bennett following poor polling results.
{{cite web
|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121566701/simon-bridges-faces-challenge-to-his-leadership-from-mps-todd-muller-and-nikki-kaye--source
|title= Simon Bridges faces challenge to his leadership from MPs Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye
|work=Stuff |date= 20 May 2020|access-date= 22 May 2020
}}
Muller and Kaye won the votes and became the new leader and deputy leader respectively.
Background
After the National Party lost the 2017 election, its leader Bill English resigned and Simon Bridges won the leadership election in February 2018. Bridges had promised a "generational refresh"{{Cite web|title=National leader vote: Bridges touts 'generational change'|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018632165/national-leader-vote-bridges-touts-generational-change|date=2018-02-15|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|access-date=2020-06-02}} of a National Party in Opposition for the first time in almost a decade. Under Bridges' leadership, National continued to poll between 40% and 45% and on some polls was projected to be able to form a government with the support of ACT New Zealand. However, Bridges' personal popularity remained well below that of Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern. Despite this, he saw off an apparent challenge for the leadership made by Judith Collins in April 2019, although a leadership election was never called (Collins would later go on to win the leadership after Todd Muller).{{Cite web|title=Simon Bridges, the scrapper who couldn't stop scrapping|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300019107/simon-bridges-the-scrapper-who-couldnt-stop-scrapping|last1=Coughlan|first1=Thomas|last2=Cooke|first2=Henry|date=24 May 2020|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-06-02}}{{Cite news|title=Judith Collins refuses to say she's loyal to National leader Simon Bridges|language=en|work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/judith-collins-refuses-to-say-she-s-loyal-to-national-leader-simon-bridges.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501003505/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/judith-collins-refuses-to-say-she-s-loyal-to-national-leader-simon-bridges.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2019|access-date=2020-06-02}}{{Cite news|title=National MPs speaking out against leader Simon Bridges|language=en|work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/national-mps-speaking-out-against-leader-simon-bridges.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416123135/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/national-mps-speaking-out-against-leader-simon-bridges.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2019|access-date=2020-06-02}} In September 2020, the National-supporting political commentator Matthew Hooton alleged that at this time Collins had formed a leadership ticket with Todd Muller, but they had been unable to gather sufficient support to remove Bridges.{{cite news |title=Matthew Hooton: Simon Bridges was 'the most unpopular senior political figure in the English-speaking world' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12367438 |access-date=25 September 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Herald }}
Bridges' judgement was questioned throughout his leadership. Among other incidents, he received criticism for describing National MP Jami-Lee Ross as having "embarrassing" personal health problems ahead of Ross quitting to become an independent MP{{Cite news|last=Bateman|first=Sophie|date=4 October 2018|title=Simon Bridges expresses regret over 'embarrassing' remark about Jami-Lee Ross|language=en|work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/10/simon-bridges-expresses-regret-over-embarrassing-remark-about-jami-lee-ross.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004085848/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/10/simon-bridges-expresses-regret-over-embarrassing-remark-about-jami-lee-ross.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2018|access-date=2020-06-02}} and for describing a National Party staffer as "junior" and "emotional" when he deleted, in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, an anti-migration petition that was hosted on the Party's website.{{Cite web|title=Adams' return signals what really lay behind Muller's campaign {{!}} Politik|url=https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/05/25/what-lay-behind-mullers-campaign/|last=Harman|first=Richard|language=en-NZ|access-date=2020-06-02}}{{Cite web|title='Emotional junior staffer' in dispute with National Party following UN petition deletion|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/111761312/emotional-junior-staffer-in-dispute-with-national-party-following-un-petition-deletion|last=Cooke|first=Henry|date=3 April 2019|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-06-02}} In April 2020, during New Zealand's COVID-19 pandemic, Bridges published a long Facebook post criticising the Government's response to COVID-19. The post attracted more than 25,000 comments, most of them negative.{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus: Simon Bridges receives huge backlash to Facebook post criticising lockdown extension|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121169737/coronavirus-simon-bridges-receives-huge-backlash-to-facebook-post-criticising-lockdown-extension|date=2020-04-21|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-06-02}}{{Cite news|last=Graham-McLay|first=Charlotte|date=2020-05-20|title=New Zealand opposition leader Simon Bridges faces leadership challenge|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/20/new-zealand-opposition-leader-simon-bridges-to-face-national-party-leadership-challenge|access-date=2020-06-02|issn=0261-3077}} Opinion polling would show that most New Zealanders supported the Government's decision to implement a nationwide stay-at-home order and the Government's economic response.{{Cite news|last1=Cooke|first1=Henry|last2=Malpass|first2=Luke|date=25 March 2020|title=Coronavirus: Poll shows Kiwis back harsh measures but are extremely worried about virus|website=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120534052/coronavirus-poll-shows-kiwis-back-harsh-measures-but-are-extremely-worried-about-virus|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324234129/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120534052/coronavirus-poll-shows-kiwis-back-harsh-measures-but-are-extremely-worried-about-virus|archive-date=24 March 2020}} Bridges also received some criticism for choosing to drive weekly between his home in Tauranga and Parliament to chair the Epidemic Response Committee, which was meeting virtually over Zoom.{{Cite web|title=Bridges defends Wellington to Tauranga commute|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/413566/bridges-defends-wellington-to-tauranga-commute|date=2020-04-06|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|access-date=2020-06-02}}
On 18 May 2020, four months before the next general election, a poll was released in which 56.5% of those surveyed would vote for Labour, compared with 30.6% for National. The same poll reported that 59.5% of those surveyed preferred Labour's leader Jacinda Ardern for prime minister, whereas Simon Bridges was preferred by only 4.5%.{{Cite web|title=Jacinda Ardern, Labour soar in new poll|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/416936/jacinda-ardern-labour-soar-in-new-poll|date=2020-05-18|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|access-date=2020-05-20}} This was the first public poll since the COVID-19 pandemic reached New Zealand, and Labour had seen widespread support for its actions in the pandemic including from National supporters.{{Cite news|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=2020-05-18|title=New poll: Labour and Jacinda Ardern surge in popularity, National and Simon Bridges plummet|language=en-NZ|work=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12332872|access-date=2020-05-20|issn=1170-0777}}
By 19 May, media were reporting on a challenge to Bridges' leadership, citing comments from anonymous National MPs. The same day, Muller said he had no leadership ambitions and wasn't interested in the job.{{Cite web|title=Todd Muller denies leadership ambitions despite endorsement by ex-PM|url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-country/audio/todd-muller-denies-hes-interested-in-national-leadership/|last=ZB|first=Newstalk|website=ZB|access-date=2020-05-20}} However, on 20 May Muller confirmed in an email to National MPs that he would mount a challenge for the National Party leadership. Later that day the party announced that the vote would be held on 22 May.{{cite web|title=National confirms leadership vote to be held on Friday|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417094/national-confirms-leadership-vote-to-be-held-on-friday|date=20 May 2020|work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=22 May 2020}}
Former National Party president Michelle Boag said that the poll was not the only reason for the leadership challenge, describing it as the "catalyst" but saying that there had been "months and months, and sometimes years, of [National] MPs having negative feedback about their leader, not only from party members but from constituents."{{Cite web|title=Simon Bridges' tactics likely to lose him the leadership challenge - commentator|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/417154/simon-bridges-tactics-likely-to-lose-him-the-leadership-challenge-commentator|date=21 May 2020|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|access-date=2020-05-21}} Some National MPs told reporters that a leadership challenge by Muller had been "brewing for a while."{{Cite web|title=Todd Muller's expenses show he is spending like a leader|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121586172/todd-mullers-expenses-show-he-is-spending-like-a-leader|last=Devlin|first=Collette|date=21 May 2020|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}}
Muller arrived in Wellington on 21 May in order to talk with National MPs one-on-one. When asked whether Nikki Kaye was his running mate for the deputy position, he refused to comment, saying "all conversations about leadership should stay within caucus".{{Cite web|title=Todd Muller arrives in Wellington on eve of attempt to oust Simon Bridges|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017368/todd-muller-arrives-in-wellington-on-eve-of-attempt-to-oust-simon-bridges|last=Cooke|first=Henry|date=21 May 2020|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}} Kaye also refused to confirm she was Muller's running mate.{{Cite web|title=Nikki Kaye 'very busy' as she heads to Wellington with challenge vote looming|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017534/nikki-kaye-very-busy-as-she-heads-to-wellington-with-challenge-vote-looming|last=Block|first=George|date=21 May 2020|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}} That night, another poll was released which had Labour at 59% and National at 29%. In this poll, which was conducted from 16 to 20 May, Bridges received 5% support as preferred prime minister, while Muller received 0.2%.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/pressure-mounts-national-falls-29-labour-skyrockets-in-1-news-colmar-brunton-poll |title=Pressure mounts as National falls to 29%, Labour skyrockets in 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll |date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Bridges plummets in latest poll, as National leadership race enters final day|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300018085/bridges-plummets-in-latest-poll-as-national-leadership-race-enters-final-day|last=Coughlan|first=Thomas|date=21 May 2020|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}}
National MPs arrived at Parliament on the morning of 22 May for an emergency caucus meeting to be held at midday, many having flown into Wellington that morning. Very few would indicate which way they intended to vote, and the vote was a secret ballot.
Candidates
= Declared candidates =
=Declined=
The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:
- Judith Collins, MP for Papakura since 2002.{{Cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Tova|date=21 May 2020|title=Judith Collins rules out run for leadership, but won't rule out visit from Todd Muller offering deputy role|language=en|work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/judith-collins-rules-out-run-for-leadership-but-won-t-rule-out-visit-from-todd-muller-offering-deputy-role.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604103825/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/judith-collins-rules-out-run-for-leadership-but-won-t-rule-out-visit-from-todd-muller-offering-deputy-role.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2020|access-date=2020-05-21}} Collins declined to say who she would support ahead of the vote, but a month later confirmed that she had voted for Muller.
- Mark Mitchell, MP for Rodney since 2011. Mitchell pledged support to Bridges on 20 May.{{Cite news|title=National to hold emergency caucus meeting on Friday about party's leadership|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/national-hold-emergency-caucus-meeting-friday-partys-leadership|access-date=2020-05-21}} Despite media speculation,{{Cite news|title=Mark Mitchell may contest National Party leadership, 1 NEWS understands|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/mark-mitchell-may-contest-national-party-leadership-1-news-understands|access-date=2020-05-21}} Mitchell confirmed on the day of the vote that he would not run in the election.{{Cite web|title=Live: The contest for the National party leadership|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017906/live-the-contest-for-the-national-party-leadership|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}}
Results
Todd Muller won the vote for the party leadership, and Nikki Kaye won the vote for the deputy position in a secret ballot.{{Cite news|last1=Ensor |first1=Jamie |last2=Small |first2=Zane |last3=O'Brien |first3=Tova |last4=Kronast |first4=Hannah |title=National Party leadership contest live updates: Simon Bridges v Todd Muller|language=en|work=Newshub|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/national-party-leadership-contest-live-updates-simon-bridges-v-todd-muller.html|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522054216/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/national-party-leadership-contest-live-updates-simon-bridges-v-todd-muller.html|archive-date=2020-05-22}}{{Cite news|title=Live: Todd Muller beats Simon Bridges in National Party leadership contest|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017906/live-simon-bridges-and-todd-muller-in-national-party-leadership-contest|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523060756/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300017906/live-simon-bridges-and-todd-muller-in-national-party-leadership-contest|archive-date=2020-05-23}}{{Cite web|title=Live: Simon Bridges loses National Party leadership to Todd Muller|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417253/live-simon-bridges-loses-national-party-leadership-to-todd-muller|date=2020-05-22|website=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525054607/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417253/as-it-happened-simon-bridges-loses-national-party-leadership-to-todd-muller|archive-date=2020-05-25}} On 24 May, the Herald on Sunday reported that Muller may have won the leadership by a single vote. By contrast, Stuff reported that while Bridges' supporters were claiming such a margin, the margin was likely to have been wider.{{cite news |last1=Malpass |first1=Luke |last2=Watkins |first2=Tracey |title=How Todd Muller took Simon Bridges by surprise |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121607160/how-todd-muller-took-simon-bridges-by-surprise |access-date=25 May 2020 |work=Stuff |date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525054900/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121607160/how-todd-muller-took-simon-bridges-by-surprise |archive-date=25 May 2020}} In October 2020 an outgoing National MP said Muller won by one vote.{{cite news |last1=Vance |first1=Andrea |title=The 'complete disarray' of National's campaign that led to electoral 'slaughter' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300137917/election-2020-the-complete-disarray-of-nationals-campaign-that-led-to-electoral-slaughter |access-date=24 October 2020 |work=Stuff |date=24 October 2020 }}
Aftermath
On 25 May, three days after the election, Muller announced a National caucus reshuffle, though there were only a few changes. Amy Adams, who had planned to retire at the 2020 election, instead changed her mind and was awarded the newly created "Covid-19 Recovery" portfolio. It was reported that Simon Bridges was offered the Justice portfolio; reportedly he turned it down and asked for the Foreign Affairs portfolio, but was refused it. Bridges was not given any caucus ranking but Muller said that there would be a place for Bridges in his senior leadership team should he decide to stay in politics.{{Cite news|title=National leader Todd Muller reshuffles caucus: Adams rises, Tolley falls in new lineup|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417462/national-leader-todd-muller-reshuffles-caucus-adams-rises-tolley-falls-in-new-lineup|date=2020-05-25|work=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525051921/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/417462/national-leader-todd-muller-reshuffles-caucus-adams-rises-tolley-falls-in-new-lineup|archive-date=2020-05-25}}
Bridges announced he was staying in the party and would run again for the Tauranga electorate.{{Cite news|title=Simon Bridges to stay on in National, says he is 'not considering future'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300020152/simon-bridges-to-stay-on-in-national-says-he-is-not-considering-future|last=Cooke|first=Henry|date=25 May 2020|work=Stuff|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525055142/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300020152/simon-bridges-to-stay-on-in-national-says-he-is-not-considering-future|archive-date=25 May 2020|access-date=25 May 2020}} After retaining the Tauranga electorate in the 2020 general election, Bridges resigned as a Member of Parliament on 15 March 2022, causing a byelection for his seat.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-03 |title=Watch: 'Even the bad times have been good' - Simon Bridges to quit Parliament |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/its-time-national-party-mp-simon-bridges-quits-will-leave-parliament-in-coming-weeks/V3L6FUWZNJXKJQWFD2Q4J5WJ3Y/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Paula Bennett announced on 29 June her intention to retire from politics at the 2020 general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/former-national-party-deputy-leader-paula-bennett-to-retire-from-politics-at-2020-election.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629215211/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/former-national-party-deputy-leader-paula-bennett-to-retire-from-politics-at-2020-election.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2020 |title=Former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett to retire from politics at 2020 election |date=29 June 2020}} Her announcement prompted a second caucus reshuffle;{{Cite web|last=Scotcher|first=Katie|date=2020-06-30|title=National will consider Māori representation during caucus reshuffle|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/420163/national-will-consider-maori-representation-during-caucus-reshuffle|access-date=2020-06-30|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} in this reshuffle Bridges was given the Foreign Affairs portfolio he wanted and a caucus ranking of 17.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-02|title=National Party leader Todd Muller announces reshuffle|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/420308/national-party-leader-todd-muller-announces-reshuffle|access-date=2020-07-01|website=RNZ }}
Muller held the position of National Party leader for less than two months. Muller would later reveal that he suffered severe panic attacks, starting five days after his election, which became worse as the days went on, until he found himself unable to get out of bed.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-24|title=Former National leader Todd Muller opens up about panic attacks days into job|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/426816/former-national-leader-todd-muller-opens-up-about-panic-attacks-days-into-job|access-date=2020-09-24|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} On 14 July 2020, he resigned as leader, saying: "the role has taken a heavy toll on me personally, and on my family, and this has become untenable from a health perspective."{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Todd Muller resigns as National Party leader|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/421152/todd-muller-resigns-as-national-party-leader|access-date=2020-07-13|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} This triggered the second leadership election in 2020.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NZ National Party}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-05 New Zealand National Party leadership election}}
Category:2020 elections in New Zealand