# Greens Target Labor Heartlands in Upcoming Victorian State Election The Greens aim to erode Labor's majority by contesting key inner-north Melbourne seats. - **Source:** [ABC Australia – Top Stories](https://www.abc.net.au/news) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1cb0cb66-03de-4721-a30f-0adfd713c425 ## Strategic Electoral Offensive The Greens are launching a significant campaign to capture traditional Labor seats in the upcoming Victorian state election on November 28. By focusing on inner-north Melbourne, the party aims to challenge Labor's current parliamentary majority. This push follows a difficult federal election period where the party suffered notable losses in 2025. ## The Northcote Battleground Northcote, formerly held by Senator Lidia Thorpe, has become a primary target for the Greens. Candidate Campbell Gome is attempting to flip the seat after losing to Labor's Kat Theophanous by only 184 votes in 2022. The area remains a critical test of whether voter dissatisfaction can translate into a seat gain. ## Labor's Defensive Stance Incumbent MP Kat Theophanous acknowledges voter fatigue after 12 years of Labor government but defends the party's record of delivery. She maintains that Northcote has historically been a marginal seat and emphasizes the risks of a potential Coalition government. Labor currently holds 54 of the 88 lower house seats in parliament. ## The Socialist Factor The Victorian Socialists are also running candidates in Northcote, introducing a more radical, anti-capitalist platform. Candidate Kath Larkin argues that the Greens only offer minor reforms compared to their own agenda of rent caps and public ownership. This presence could complicate the Greens' path by splitting the progressive vote in the region. ## Shifting Political Dynamics Recent polling suggests the Greens hold between 14 and 17 percent of the statewide primary vote. While the Greens emphasize their ability to influence policy at all levels of government, the Victorian Socialists are actively seeking to challenge their position on the left. These competing agendas are reshaping the local political landscape. ## Preference Flow Importance In the 2022 election, preference flows from the Liberals and Socialists significantly tightened the race in Northcote. This time, the Greens are aiming to secure the seat without relying on such preferences. Meanwhile, the Socialists admit they are unlikely to win the seat but intend to influence the final electoral outcome. ## Voter Sentiment Analysis Candidate Campbell Gome suggests that voters are driven by a combination of interest in Greens policies and frustration with Labor. He describes a perceived abandonment of Labor's historic commitment to ordinary people. This sentiment is particularly visible in gentrified areas of Melbourne where political messaging now competes with local cafe culture. ## Broader Parliamentary Impact Success in Northcote and other targeted seats like Footscray and Pascoe Vale could significantly erode Labor's majority. If the Greens capture these areas, it would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Victorian parliament. The election results will determine if the current government retains its mandate or faces a major shift. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-10/greens-target-labor-heartland-northcote-victoria-state-election/107323772 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._