Legislative Assembly · District of Benambra
Alex Vangalen
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Benambra›
Benambra covers about 10,037 sq km of north-eastern Victoria centred on Wodonga, taking in towns such as Beechworth, Corryong, Rutherglen and Tallangatta. The seat has been held continuously by conservative parties since its creation in 1877, most recently by Liberal MP Bill Tilley since 2006, who won it narrowly at the 2022 election with 50.9% to an independent's 49.1% two-candidate-preferred (a margin of 777 votes). Tilley announced in 2024 that he will retire at the 2026 election, following a cancer diagnosis. Steve Martin — a separate person from Tilley, previously mentored by him in an unsuccessful 2019 federal Indi campaign — is the Liberal Party's new candidate to succeed him.
Background
Works as a Behaviour Support Practitioner and is a member of the Australian Services Union, per his Victorian Socialists profile. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALENVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View source
The Border Mail says he works for Mercy Connect in Thurgoona, writing support plans for disability clients between Yarrawonga and Culcairn. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
Joined the Victorian Socialists about six months before August 2026 and helped set up its Benambra branch, which has ten members. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
Says he supports workers and marginalised communities and advocates for disability service investment. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALENVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View source
Says he is a Wodonga local who has lived in the area for 30 years. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALENVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View source
The Border Mail describes him as a 30-year-old Wodonga father of three, married to Paige. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
"Housing shortages, the cost-of-living crisis, public transport, and healthcare."
"For 50 years, the Liberal Party has treated this seat as safe, and our community has paid the price."
Aims for 10 per cent of the vote: "If we could get 10 per cent, I would be very, very proud of that."
What Victorians say matters most
5 poll-led issuesCost of living and crime have ranked 1st or 2nd in every Victorian poll since mid‑2025, with debt and housing close behind — see schema §3 for the polling this grouping is based on (DemosAU, Ipsos Issues Monitor, Roy Morgan). The 0-10 'priorityScore' on each candidate's issue entries is NOT a measure of true importance or an independent ranking of what a candidate actually cares about. It reflects how much detail and specificity exists in what that candidate has actually said publicly on that issue -- a named policy mechanism and a verified voting record score higher than a one-line stated priority, regardless of the issue's real-world weight. Render this distinction in the UI wherever the score appears; do not label it just 'Priority' without the qualifier.
Cost of living
Names the cost-of-living crisis as a priority.
The party's fiscal policy would fund services with a 10% annual wealth tax on billionaires, a 20% bank profits tax and a 20% super-profits tax on retailers earning over $100 million.
Crime and community safety
The party's policing policy would raise the age of criminal responsibility to 16, presume bail for all offences and hold a Royal Commission into policing; nothing is attributed to Vangalen personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names housing shortages as a priority.
Cited a median rent of $570 a week in Wodonga, and said he would abolish private rental properties while allowing personal possessions and owner-occupied homes.
The party's housing policy would cut all residential rents 25% then freeze them for five years, and build at least 15,000 public housing units a year for ten years.
State government debt and fiscal management
The party's fiscal policy focuses on new revenue, including a 10% annual billionaire wealth tax and doubled payroll tax on firms with wages over $5 million.
No position on state debt levels was found, and nothing on it is attributed to Vangalen.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Names public transport, which he calls underfunded, as a priority.
Said public transport is inadequate; a summary of the party's transport policy says it would make public transport free and reverse privatisation.
Also on the record
6 substance issuesThese don't top “biggest issue” polling, but carry real 2026 policy weight and genuine differences between parties.
Education and training
A summary of the party's education policy says it would provide universal preschool and childcare and end NAPLAN testing; nothing is attributed to Vangalen personally.
Health and healthcare access
Names healthcare as a priority and advocates disability service investment, reflecting his work in disability support.
Raised cross-border healthcare access between Wodonga and Albury as a concern.
Urban planning and housing density
A summary of the party's planning policy says it would end public land sales and require developers to fund community amenities; nothing is attributed to Vangalen personally.
Climate and energy transition
A summary of the party's energy and climate policies says it would take power into public ownership and move to 100% publicly owned renewable energy; nothing is attributed to Vangalen personally.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
A summary of the party's First Nations policy says it wants a treaty with material change beyond symbolic recognition; nothing is attributed to Vangalen personally.
Regional and rural Victoria
Says the Liberals have treated the seat as safe for 50 years and the community has paid the price.
A summary of the party's rural policy says it would rebuild regional transport, secure jobs and end rural worker exploitation.
Local & party context
2 fieldsNot scored the way the eleven issues above are — these are fixed facts about the seat and the party, not positions with more or less emphasis behind them.
Rents in Wodonga, with a median of $570 a week. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
Cross-border healthcare access between Wodonga and Albury. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
Public transport and public housing in the Wodonga area. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALENVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View source
Vangalen runs on the Victorian Socialists' statewide platform, and his priorities (housing, cost of living, public transport, healthcare) match it. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALEN, VS-POLICIESVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View sourceVictorian Socialists, "Policies"View source
His stated aim to abolish private rental properties goes beyond the rent cut, freeze, public housing build and property-ownership caps in the party housing policy pages retrieved, which do not mention abolishing private rentals. RReported — BM-VANGALEN, VS-POLICY-HOUSINGThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View sourceVictorian Socialists, "Housing For All"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
His candidate profile mentions no prior campaign. SSelf-stated — VS-VANGALENVictorian Socialists, "Alex Vangalen"View source
The Border Mail calls him the Victorian Socialists' first candidate for Benambra. RReported — BM-VANGALENThe Border Mail, "Socialist candidate Alex Vangalen targets 10 per cent in Benambra"View source
No Victorian Socialists candidate appears in the 2018 or 2022 Benambra results. VVerified — WIKI-BENAMBRA-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Benambra"View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Per the Victorian Electoral Commission's funding guidance (vec.vic.gov.au, accessed 2026-09-29 via search snippets of its independent-candidate and registered-party funding pages), a candidate is eligible for public election funding if they receive at least 4% of first-preference votes in their contest, or are elected. Funding is reimbursed against an audited statement of campaign expenditure, and advance funding must be repaid in full if the threshold is missed.
Vangalen has not previously contested an election and is the party's first Benambra candidate, so he has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. His stated target of 10% would clear the 4% mark.