PLAID CYMRU and Reform were the big winners in the Casnewydd Islwyn seat, reflecting their strong performances nationally in the Senedd elections.
The parties each picked up a pair of seats in the new constituency, while the Conservatives and Labour took the remaining two.
Reform’s Wales leader Dan Thomas said his party’s extraordinary surge since the 2001 Welsh elections were down to its “common sense policies and putting the people of Wales first”.
Taking to the stage at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport, he said: “The people have spoken, and now in Reform they finally have a voice.
“You will not be ignored, you will not be sidelined.”
Mr Thomas will be joined in the Senedd by fellow Reform candidate Art Wright.
Like Plaid, Reform’s election campaign has centred on the need for change in Wales following 27 years of Labour controlling the Senedd.
Mr Thomas’ party won the most votes in Casnewydd Islwyn, followed relatively closely by Plaid ahead of a trailing pack.
Peredur Owen Griffiths said it was “fantastic” to be re-elected to the Senedd, where he will “continue where I left off, working hard for all my constituents”.
“Whatever the final picture across Wales, Plaid Cymru will continue working constructively, responsibly and tirelessly in the interests of the people we represent,” he told the crowd at the velodrome.
He will be joined in the Welsh Parliament by new face and party colleague Lyn Ackerman.
Jayne Bryant said she felt “emotional” after winning re-election, in a result that saved some face for Labour locally amid disastrous showings nationwide.
The party held half of the Senedd’s seats following the 2021 vote but is now expected to finish far behind Plaid and Reform.
Ms Bryant said she felt “very sad” Labour’s second candidate Rhianon Passmore had lost her seat.
“She represented Islwyn for many years, and has dedicated herself to public service,” said Ms Bryant, adding her own re-election was a “huge privilege”.
“I’m a hard worker and I’ll continue to do that to the best of my ability,” she added.
Natasha Asghar took the final Casnewydd Islwyn seat and will be another returning face in the expanded Welsh Parliament.
The Conservative told the crowd she had not prepared a victory speech because she “didn’t know which way today was going to go”.
She said she felt “a huge sense of gratitude” to local Tory voters “when I know times are hard for my party as a whole”.
The final vote tallies for Casnewydd Islwyn:
Reform – 25571
Plaid Cymru – 23069
Labour – 10622
Conservatives – 8847
Green – 5898
Lib Dems – 2683
Open – 435
Heritage – 349
Taran Clayton (independent) – 224
Spoiled ballots – 193
Turnout – 47.8%
