With 56.1 per cent of the vote counted, Mr Layzell is tipped to secure 56.3 per cent of the vote after preferences

Significantly, the win also means the National's unbroken 90 year hold on the seat continues.

With about $120 million worth of commitments courtesy of a Coalition government that was desperate to win behind him, Mr Layzell knows he has to back up promises with actions.

"The people of the Upper Hunter have given me their trust. I want to make sure I have all of those [issues] written down and start actioning them," he said on Sunday.

Mr Layzell, a virtual unknown at the start of the campaign, paid tribute to Deputy Premier John Barilaro's role in his victory.

"It's been such an incredible learning curve; I have gone from basically zero. No one knew me," he said.

"In that time John (Barilaro) has basically tutored me in a lot of politics and the art of making sure that you listen, that you hear peoples issues and the great art of delivering for people."

Mr Barilaro agreed his high profile during the campaign had helped deliver the narrow victory.

"I just think with the absence of having a local member I filled that void. I was turning up to community group meetings and town hall meetings and listening to their concerns. I think there is definitely some effect there," he said.

"For me, everything I said I would do I will do. I'm not going to throw David into the deep end and just go and do it for the next 18 months. I have taken on these issues like Transgrid power lines out at Merriwa, the transition piece, we are going to get the expert panel for that in place as quickly as we can."

"I hope people can see that I have been genuine about everything I have said."

Mr Layzell, a father of four, previously told the Newcastle Herald that he carefully considered how moving into politics would affect his family.

He paid tribute to his rivals for running a mostly clean campaign.

"We were very lucky it was a positive campaign. Everyone focused on the issues and that is a credit to all of the candidates," he said.

"There was a little bit of mud-slinging but it was mostly at myself and not at my family and for that I give all of the candidates credit."

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Mr Barilaro said he was confident that Layzell would be returned at the 2023 state election.

"I'm glad they have given this guy a go," he said.

"They have got 18 months now to try him. Judge us hard; Judge us in 2023. If we haven't lived up to [what we promised] we deserve [to lose] but I am confident we will get there."

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