Labor retains Dan Andrews' old seat in Victorian by-election

Labor has declared victory in Daniel Andrews' old seat for the Mulgrave by-election, trigged by the former premier's resignation.

Voters in Melbourne's south-east headed to the polls to elect his replacement, and while support for the party appears to have weakened in the Labor safe seat, the party managed to hold on.

Mulgrave is where Andrews was elected in six consecutive elections, making Eden Foster the first new MP for the seat in 20 years.

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While the votes are still being counted, Opposition Leader John Pesutto conceded defeat around 9pm, saying the Liberal Party was unable to win the seat.

When Andrews was elected in the seat last year his margin was 10.2 per cent but pundits were right in expecting a swing against the government in this by-election.

Foster held 40 per cent of the primary votes by around 9.30pm, with 75 per cent of the votes counted but that was still a fall of more than 10 per cent compared to the 2022 election, The Age reports.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, Andrews' replacement Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was on hand to help Foster win some extra votes. 

Foster, a former local mayor and psychologist, was one of 10 candidates campaigning for the seat.

"We do know from history that by-elections for governments can be challenging," Allan said.

The poll has attracted heightened interest as it is considered to be a test for the leadership of Allan along with Liberal leader John Pesutto. 

"I think there's a bit of an 'it's time' factor, believe it or not," Pesutto said earlier in the day.

"A fatigue with rising costs of living and taxes."

The Liberal Party's candidate in the by-election was Courtney Mann, who is a 38-year-old political advisor.

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Independent candidate Ian Cook was also a contender for the seat after he finished second ahead of the Liberal Party last year.

Cook was hoping to close the gap further in the by-election and he may have managed to do that with the second place spot still up in the air. 

"I got very footsore doing door knocking. But it was interesting and it keeps amazing me how many people recognise me," he said.

"It is humbling. People really like the idea that I will represent them first, not a party first."

More than 47,000 people are registered to vote and it is expected a result will be known on Saturday evening.