Rugby great and Climate 200-backed independent, Mr Pocock, had received 22.08 per cent of primary votes, just 1786 votes behind of the Liberal ticket on 23.41 per cent of primary votes with 43 per cent of ballots counted at 11pm.
The Labor vote was firmly in front with 33.2 per cent of the primary vote count, ensuring Senator Katy Gallagher will be returned for another three-year term, as territory senators do not serve six-year terms like those representing Australia's states.
Mr Pocock, who was celebrating at QT Hotel in Canberra, said the rise of independents had made people reconsider the role of politics and what voters wanted for the ACT.
"Today has been a monumental day in Australian politics," Mr Pocock said of the national rise of independents.
Mr Pocock at his election party held at Canberra's QT Hotel said the rise of independents had made people reconsider the role of politics and what voters want for their jurisdiction.
Mr Pocock used his last day of campaigning to condemn robocalls made by Advance Australia which circulated media outlets including the The Canberra Times were biased and favoured the independent candidate.
"It's more of the stuff that we're so sick of in politics, the fear-mongering, the negative attacks, attacking The Canberra Times on election eve, just such poor form," Mr Pocock said.
I'm the federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC.
I'm the federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC.
Olivia started as an intern in August 2021 and began her career with the Times after completing her studies at the ANU in November 2021
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