Labor says its candidate, Joel Bowden, has won the Johnston by-election.

Key points: The by-election was triggered when former Labor member Ken Vowles resigned last November

The by-election was triggered when former Labor member Ken Vowles resigned last November Labor had held the seat of Johnston with a margin of 14.7 per cent at the 2016 election

Labor had held the seat of Johnston with a margin of 14.7 per cent at the 2016 election For live results and from the ABC's election analyst Antony Green click here

With vote counting nearly complete, ABC election analyst Antony Green said results did not indicate "anything other than a Labor win" in the northern Darwin seat.

According to Green's live election blog and the NT Electoral Commission's preliminary results, the vote count after preferences was Labor 52.6 per cent and Territory Alliance 47.4 per cent.

If the results hold, the win would be both a relief for the Gunner Labor Government but also cause for alarm six months out from the Northern Territory election after voters delivered a major swing (-12.1 per cent) against the party.

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Mr Bowden, the former AFL player and Unions NT secretary, and the Government held off the newly formed Territory Alliance, which had framed the election as an early referendum on the Government ahead of the August Northern Territory election.

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Voters in Johnston had been expected to punish Labor after it ousted the previous member for Johnson, Ken Vowles, from the party's caucus.

Mr Vowles, who had been openly critical of the Chief Minister and the Government's handling of the economy, resigned last November, triggering Saturday night's by-election.

Competing parties, such as Territory Alliance and the CLP, had hoped to frame the by-election as a vote on Michael Gunner's first term in power ahead of the upcoming election and capitalise on perceptions of a mounting public dissatisfaction with Mr Gunner's Government.

But Mr Bowden returned a crucial victory for his party and its leader, Mr Gunner — who was spared the rebuke many had predicated — in what is seen as a crucial seat in the 2020 NT election.

In order to retain power at the 2020 election, Green has suggested Labor must hold every northern Darwin seat, including Johnston.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro, Labor candidate Joel Bowden and the Chief Minister deliver their pitch to voters. ( ABC News: Jano Gibson )

'We'll do it all again in August'

Despite the strong swing against his party, Mr Bowden declared the by-election "a great night for Labor" when addressing supporters at the Pint Club after vote counting was completed.

Mr Bowden thanked his family and supporters for "[making] sure we connected with the people of Johnston".

Joel Bowden celebrates with the Chief Minister and his father, Michael Bowden. ( ABC News: Felicity James )

"Tonight we won every booth, we had everyone at our throats, we had people yapping at our heels, and we were able to press on, get the ball, and we got it through the goals," Mr Bowden said.

"Friends, comrades, thank you, we've got to do it all again in August. We've got to have a little rest. Maybe just a little rest and a little celebration, because this is a great night for Labor.

"This is a great night that reassures Territorians that you will always do better under Labor. That the Labor Party puts Territorians first — and they understand that, they know that.

"And we, the Labor Party … will be delivering and will listen. I'll go back on Monday and will start listening to the people of Johnston."

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'Territorians stuck with us': Chief Minister

Although his party's win came with a significant swing against it, in a seat it has held since 2001, Mr Gunner said the victory meant Territorians were "[staying] the course" with the Government.

"You chose Joel Bowden and Labor," Mr Gunner said.

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"For that, I thank you. It's been a long by-election, a tough race. Every party teamed up against us. Despite that, we won every booth. Territorians chose to stick with us."

Mr Gunner hailed Mr Bowden as a "champion" and an "incredibly hard worker" at post-election celebrations, and said Mr Bowden would work hard to pay back voters' trust until the 2020 NT election.

"It has been tough in the Territory over the last few years. And when times are tough, Territorians stick together. I want every Territorian to know that we do not take their support for granted," Mr Gunner said.

"Today, the people of Johnston chose to stay the course. In six months' time we're going to be asking Territorians to make the same choice. To stick with us, to stay with our team."

The seat of Johnston, home to the popular Rapid Creek markets, has been in Labor hands since 2001.

Bowden's victory keeps Mills, Territory Alliance at bay

Joel Bowden's win means Labor retains 16 seats in Northern Territory Parliament, the CLP two seats and Territory Alliance one, along with six independents.

Labor's win has also set back a bid from Territory Alliance to reshape Territory politics and seize Opposition status from the CLP.

Last week, Terry Mills, the leader of Territory Alliance and a former CLP chief minister, said the party would seek an equal distribution of Parliamentary Opposition resources if its candidate, Steven Klose, won the by-election.

Territory Alliance also flagged it could have attempted to seize Opposition status in its own right after Labor-turned-independent politician Jeff Collins said he was considering joining the rising political party.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills (right) had hoped to form Opposition if Mr Klose (left) won the by-election. ( ABC News: Jano Gibson )

Who is Joel Bowden?

Mr Bowden grew up in Alice Springs and currently lives in Darwin with his wife and four children.

Joel Bowden, ex-AFL player, came into the by-election with a high profile. ( ABC News: Eleni Roussos )

He holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business Administration and is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at Charles Darwin University.

Before the election, Mr Bowden was the general secretary at Unions NT and has previously worked with the Northern Territory Department of Tourism and Culture and AFLNT, as well as running his own hospitality and property development business in Victoria.

Mr Bowden is known for his and his family's connection with the Richmond AFL club, where he played 264 games between 1996 and 2009. Mr Bowden's father Michael played 59 games for Richmond and was a member of the club's 1969 premiership side.