Hannah Ferguson: ‘I’m not Zohran Mamdani, I’m not that cool. But that’s the bar I want to set’
News Source
•Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:00:07 GMT
📰 What Happened
Hannah Ferguson, 28, plans to run against prime minister Anthony Albanese at the next federal election. She wants to win Grayndler, the seat Albanese has held in Sydney's inner-west for years. She walked the electorate with a Guardian journalist this week.
Ferguson has written two books and founded Cheek Media, a progressive media company. She says her campaign will focus on the three Gs: gas, gambling and Gaza. She wants at least 1,000 volunteers for the campaign.
She first announced a Senate run in May 2025 before switching to the lower house. She says her next six months are about community building, not strategy. Passersby on the walk stopped to cheer her on.
🔍 The Backstory
Ferguson is a social media star known for raw, open videos. She shared her experience of having an abortion in the Guardian in 2024. She says entering politics will force her to set new boundaries about what she shares.
Grayndler is normally a safe Labor seat. The Greens come second with about 20 to 22 per cent of the primary vote. Last year a Greens candidate won over 25 per cent but will not run again.
Ferguson looks to Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor elected in late 2025, as a political hero. She wants to make politics cool and friendly the way Mamdani has. She rejects suggestions that beating Albanese in his own seat is impossible.
🎯 Why It Matters
A young independent challenging a prime minister in his own seat is rare. If Ferguson pulls in thousands of votes, it will send a message about voter anger. Her campaign could reshape how progressives run in the next election.
Hannah Ferguson, 28, plans to run against prime minister Anthony Albanese at the next federal election. She wants to win Grayndler, the seat Albanese has held in Sydney's inner-west for years. She walked the electorate with a Guardian journalist this week.
Ferguson has written two books and founded Cheek Media, a progressive media company. She says her campaign will focus on the three Gs: gas, gambling and Gaza. She wants at least 1,000 volunteers for the campaign.
She first announced a Senate run in May 2025 before switching to the lower house. She says her next six months are about community building, not strategy. Passersby on the walk stopped to cheer her on.
Ferguson is a social media star known for raw, open videos. She shared her experience of having an abortion in the Guardian in 2024. She says entering politics will force her to set new boundaries about what she shares.
Grayndler is normally a safe Labor seat. The Greens come second with about 20 to 22 per cent of the primary vote. Last year a Greens candidate won over 25 per cent but will not run again.
Ferguson looks to Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor elected in late 2025, as a political hero. She wants to make politics cool and friendly the way Mamdani has. She rejects suggestions that beating Albanese in his own seat is impossible.
A young independent challenging a prime minister in his own seat is rare. If Ferguson pulls in thousands of votes, it will send a message about voter anger. Her campaign could reshape how progressives run in the next election.