YASMIN Catley has clawed back the state seat of Swansea from the Liberal party, one of two from the Hunter region to return to Labor on the weekend.
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Independent Greg Piper in Lake Macquarie and the National Party's Michael Johnsen in the Upper Hunter remain to be the only survivors in a wash of red across the region, with Labor wiping out the Liberals who took several Hunter seats in the 2011 election.
As The Star went to print on Monday, results were not final but enough votes had been counted for seats to be called.
Ms Catley ousted Garry Edwards, who stood as an independent after breaking ties with the Liberals late last year.
Her husband, Robert Coombs, lost the 2011 election to Mr Edwards.
Ms Catley pulled about 45 per cent of the first preference votes, ahead of Liberal candidate Johanna Uidam (26 per cent).
At the time of printing, Mr Edwards was only polling about 13 per cent of the vote.
In the seat of Charlestown, Labor's Jodie Harrison had a 19 per cent swing in her favour and took about 48 per cent of the first preference vote, easily edging out Lake Macquarie Liberal councillor Jason Pauling.
Lake Macquarie independent Greg Piper looks certain to hold on to his seat despite Labor gains.
He managed about 42 per cent of the first preference votes, ahead of Labor's Melissa Cleary with 32 per cent and Liberal Daniel Collard with 16 per cent.
Mr Piper said he anticipated a swing back to Labor in Lake Macquarie because of the party's uncharacteristically poor result in the seat in 2011.
Mr Piper now joins a small club of independents who have served more than two terms in the NSW Legislative Assembly, which includes Clover Moore (1988-2011) and Tony Windsor (1991-2001).
Labor's Tim Crakanthorp snagged about 40 per cent of the first preference vote in Newcastle, ahead of now-Liberal candidate Karen Howard (36 per cent), and Greens councillor Michael Osborne (18 per cent).
Sitting Wallsend member Sonia Hornery also made massive gains, tallying about 58 per cent of the first preference vote. She easily accounted for Liberal Hannah Eves, who polled about 24 per cent of the first preference vote.
In Cessnock, Labor's Clayton Barr enjoyed a 28 per cent swing in his favour, taking almost 61 per cent of the first preference vote.
