Independent candidate for Cowper Rob Oakeshott said he would not concede in Cowper despite the Nationals' Patrick Conaghan claiming victory.
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Mr Oakeshott said he was "chasing" and behind in the count but it wasn't over.
Mr Oakeshott said he would not concede until pre-poll was counted.
Pre-poll voting numbers for Cowper reflect the nationwide trend that saw voters head to the ballot box early.
Read more: Conaghan claims victory in Cowper
More than 46,926 of the eligible 124,507 voters in Cowper had already voted up until 6pm on Friday evening. That is 37.69 per cent of voters and the fifth highest percentage of pre-pollers in NSW.
More than four million people across the nation voted early.
Mr Oakeshott said he needed to perform better in Coffs Harbour booths to be ahead on election night but given one third of the vote in Cowper was pre-poll it wasn't over.
"I am hopeful the pre-poll will tell a different story to what we see on the TV."
He said if he lost it would "break his heart" for everyone that had helped out.
"It wasn't about me it was about getting something else going in this area that is about the values of the place we live in, the respect, inclusiveness, decency we all want from the area," Mr Oakeshott said.
"Good people have come together and put aside their own history and joined together in their white shirts and to try and make something special happen."
When a supporter yelled he should run again in four years time Mr Oakeshott said wryly "he didn't know if he had it in him".
He slammed the National Party negative advertising as "rubbish" which had "divided the community".
He urged supporters to reach over their neighbours fences regardless of political differences after their election.
"If we can be stronger as a community regardless of the result I will be happy."
Mr Oakeshott said he always knew he was "fighting a big beast" but said being "surrounded by wonderful people" had kept him going.
Over 100 Oakeshott supporters gathered at the Town Green Inn to watch the results.
Volunteer Phoebe Crane said she was "honoured" to work on the campaign regardless of the result.
She said the volunteers had become like family.
"We have over 1000 volunteers," Ms Crane said.
"We all come from different walks of life, ethnicity but have come together."
Volunteer Harry Creamer said he had "high hopes " for Mr Oakeshott.
"Given his track record when in government for example the money for hospitals, the university and the Pacific Highway, then there is his commitment to real action on climate change and his concern for social issues such as youth unemployment," Mr Creamer said.
Mr Creamer said he was feeling "very despondent" and was bewildered at the result.
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There was some early argy bargy over election signage with Nationals HQ showing signs of frustration amid debate its campaign had been "nasty" and "negative".
Independent Rob Oakeshott posted a video to his supporters on Friday night damning the party for its mud-slinging tactics saying with its long history in Cowper, should have instead used the last minute campaign time to talk to the people.
NSW Nationals State Director Ross Cadell fired one back this morning saying his team has reported an incident at Toormina where an Oakeshott official was allegedly seen removing National Party signage.
"Several signs were ripped down before the official was challenged. The incident has now been reported to police along with photos and video of the man's actions," Mr Cadell said.