Nominations for the seat, which re-opened after Bob Baldwin announced his shock retirement a fortnight ago, closed on Thursday after a two-day extension this week.

Ms Howard, a two-time state candidate in Newcastle, had previously nominated for the seat but withdrew after Mr Baldwin initially announced he would re-contest.

Although she is the only nominee, she is still not the party’s candidate, and will have to be endorsed by the party, as well as go through a nominee review committee. 

Ms Howard has been working casually in Mr Baldwin’s office, and the outgoing MP said she had his full support.

“Karen Howard is a very talented lady … she has the ability, the tenacity, and she is not a pushover candidate, I can assure you,” he said.

Mr Baldwin has been vocal in calling for residents affected by contamination in Williamtown to be offered blood testing, despite his own government not supporting the move.

Asked whether Ms Howard would follow his lead, he said he believed she would “stand up for the people of Williamtown”.

And although it is not a federal issue, Mr Baldwin had also publicly opposed a proposed mosque in Buchanan.

He said it was “up to her” whether she shared his view.

Ms Howard does not live in the Paterson electorate, but Mr Baldwin downplayed the significance of her address.

“She grew up in the area, her parents used to live around the corner from me in Chisholm,” he said.

“If you live in Nelson Bay you’re from a totally different community than if you live in Kurri Kurri anyway.” 

Previously a safe Liberal seat, Paterson was made notionally Labor during the federal redistribution, and now takes in traditionally Labor-voting areas like Kurri Kurri.

Added to that, her opponent from the Labor Party, Meryl Swanson, has been campaigning in the new electorate for more than a month.