Former deputy premier Paul Toole has just held on to the New South Wales Nationals leadership after a close party room vote.
The Bathurst MP, who has led the party for 18 months, was challenged by Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders.
The role was spilled after the state election.
Mr Toole won the vote eight to seven, with one informal vote.
"At the end of the day it's been a party room decision that's been made by my colleagues," he said.
"I'm really honoured to be given the opportunity to continue to serve in this role over the next four years."
The Nationals now hold 11 lower house seats after they lost Monaro to Labor in the state election.
"To lose only one seat was an incredible effort," Mr Toole said.
"Seven of our seats we actually increased our margins."
They had hoped to reclaim at least one of two seats that fell to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers at the last election.
The Shooters party recently imploded and all lower house MPs turned independent, but the Nationals failed to win either back.
Prior to the party room meeting, Mr Saunders had a coffee on Macquarie Street with six other National MPs including deputy leader Bronnie Taylor and former education minister Sarah Mitchell.
Ms Taylor remains as Nationals deputy leader.
"Dugald is my friend," she said.
"The party room spoke today, the vote's been taken and Paul Toole has been elected."
Mr Saunders entered parliament in 2019, and became agriculture minister under former premier Dominic Perrottet in December 2021.
Mr Toole was elected to parliament in 2011 and took over the Nationals leadership from John Barilaro, who retired from politics.
Ms Mitchell will lead the Nationals in the upper house.
