As a constituency North Down has always been a maverick.
Like most it is a mix - home to the well-heeled on the so-called Gold Coast with a sprinkling of large housing estates in its regional towns.
For years it was represented by independent MPs; unionists alright, but non-party.
Then in 2019, Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry rode in on a wave of anti-Brexit sentiment to secure the seat for his party – one of the shocks of that election.
It was a two-horse race – Mr Farry outpolling his DUP rival Alex Easton by just under 3,000 votes.
Alliance benefited from the absence of the Greens, the SDLP and Sinn Féin from the race.
That, and the presence of an Ulster Unionist candidate in the field, split the vote and allowed Alliance to canter through the middle, hoovering up the vote of the former independent unionist MP Lady Silvia Hermon.
This time around it still looks like a toss-up between Stephen Farry and Alex Easton.
Mr Easton has parted ways with the DUP and is running as an independent, though with the support of his former party which has agreed not to stand.
The hardline TUV, who want Alliance out, will also not contest the seat, strengthening his hand.
The Ulster Unionist candidate is former British soldier Colonel Tim Collins who won plaudits for an eve of battle speech during the 2003 Gulf War.
His campaign has been gaffe prone, and he has a lot of work to do to bring his party into contention.
But where he attracts support from may influence the outcome.
If he takes back some of the Ulster Unionist vote that followed Mr Farry last time, it could be good news for Mr Easton.
The one-time genteel constituency has also turned into a bit of a bearpit as polling day approaches.
Mr Easton’s election agent caused controversy following allegations of unsavoury social media postings.
All the candidates have complained of negative social media attention and pointed the finger at rivals.
Recent boundary changes will shave a bit off the Alliance majority. Both the Greens and the SDLP are standing this time. Sinn Féin is not, and neither are the Conservatives.
That will all play into the final figures. How those smaller parties poll and whether their supporters vote tactically, could all prove important in a tight race.
2019 General Election
Valid votes: 40,643
Turnout: 60.9%
Alliance: 18,358
DUP: 15,390
UUP: 4,936
Conservatives: 1,959
2024 Candidates
Chris Carter - Independent
Tim Collins - Ulster Unionist Party
Alex Easton - Independent
Stephen Farry - Alliance
Barry McKee - Green Party Northern Ireland
Deirdre Vaughan - SDLP
