Rudd wins ALP leadership vote KEVIN Rudd has exacted revenge on Julia Gillard, toppling her in a Labor Party coup to resume the prime ministership she took off him three years ago. Ms Gillard fulfilled her vow to retire from politics if she lost the caucus poll which Mr Rudd won 57 votes to 45 and was quickly followed on Wednesday night by some of her strongest supporters. Craig Emerson and Peter Garrett both announced their retirements from politics, while Greg Combet and Joe Ludwig resigned from the cabinet. Wayne Swan stepped down as deputy leader and was replaced by Anthony Albanese who fought off a challenge from Simon Crean, 61 votes to 38, but said he would remain in politics. After weeks of speculation reached a head on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Gillard called for a 7.00pm leadership ballot confident she had the numbers. But her fate seemed sealed when senior minister Bill Shorten, who helped her depose Mr Rudd in 2010, announced 15 minutes before the caucus meeting that he had switched his support to Mr Rudd. Mr Rudd will now lead the government into an election the polls say it has no hope of winning but which Ms Gillard urged her colleagues to fight out to the end. Ms Gillard congratulated Mr Rudd on his election. Mr Swan, who has been a fierce critic of newly re-elected Labor leader Kevin Rudd, confirmed he will recontest his Queensland seat of Lilley and paid tribute to Ms Gillard. "She is one of the toughest warriors that has ever led the Labor Party," he said. Labor whip Chris Hayes said Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard both spoke before the caucus vote. "The mood was quite sombre," he said. Most people are happy that the issue of the leadership is now put behind us so the party can now concentrate on preparing for the September election. Senator Penny Wong unanimously won the ballot for Leader of the Senate, taking over from Stephen Conroy. Jacinta Collins becomes the senate deputy leader.