Legislative Assembly · District of Mulgrave
Connor Buchanan
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Mulgrave›
Mulgrave, formerly held by Premier Daniel Andrews (51.0% of first preferences and 60.8% two-party-preferred in 2022), has been held by Labor's Eden Foster since she won the 18 November 2023 by-election with 40.18% of first preferences and 56.49% to 43.51% two-candidate-preferred against independent Ian Cook. Foster, the seat's first female representative, is recontesting. The 2026 field is four candidates: Foster, the Liberals' Charles Tran, the Greens' Paul Schofield and the Victorian Socialists' Connor Buchanan. The Tally Room says Labor's hold is likely solid.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
A socialist society free from landlord and employer control, addressing wealth inequality, affordable healthcare and housing, and opposing racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.
"I stand for a socialist society, one where the whims of the bosses and landlords no longer control our lives."
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 wealth inequality as a concern and wants a society free from landlord and employer control.
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
Wants to counter far-right movements and eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.
Housing affordability and supply
Names affordable housing access as a priority and is a renter himself.
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 centres on new revenue including a 10% annual billionaire wealth tax; nothing on debt levels is attributed to Buchanan.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
A summary of the party's transport policy says it would make public transport free; nothing is attributed to Buchanan personally.
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 Buchanan personally.
Health and healthcare access
Names affordable healthcare access as a priority.
A summary of the party's health policy says it would fully fund public healthcare and expand free community clinics.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
A summary of the party's energy policies says it would move to 100% publicly owned renewable energy; nothing is attributed to Buchanan personally.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Names protecting First Nations people as a priority.
A summary of the party's First Nations policy says it wants a treaty with material change beyond symbolic recognition.
Regional and rural Victoria
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
Buchanan runs on the Victorian Socialists' statewide platform, and his priorities match it. SSelf-stated — VS-BUCHANAN, VS-POLICIESVictorian Socialists, "Connor Buchanan"View sourceVictorian Socialists, "Policies"View source
No point of divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
His profile says this is his first candidacy. SSelf-stated — VS-BUCHANANVictorian Socialists, "Connor Buchanan"View source
He is not among the candidates in the 2022 election or 2023 by-election results; the party's by-election candidate was Kelly Cvetkova (3.65%). VVerified — WIKI-MUL-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Mulgrave"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.
Buchanan has not previously contested an election. The Victorian Socialists' 2023 by-election candidate polled 3.65%, just under the 4% mark.