Politics · Australia · 2 days ago
One Nation’s rise threatens Victorian Nationals in regional seats
The Victorian Nationals face a challenge from One Nation in regional Victoria ahead of the state election in November.
Polls cited in the story put One Nation’s support at about 20% across the state and higher in regional areas.
The Nationals hold nine seats in the state parliament’s lower house, after winning three from independents in 2022.
Party leader Danny O’Brien says local conversations are important in persuading voters not to switch to One Nation.
The Nationals also hope to win seats in Bendigo East, Bendigo West and Ripon.
People in the region are concerned about living costs, roads and hospitals, while changes to industries such as oil, gas and timber are affecting local towns.
Polls suggest the Nationals could lose seats, but the election outcome is not yet known.
One Nation’s rising support is threatening the Victorian Nationals in regional seats ahead of the state election in November.
Polls cited by the Guardian put One Nation’s statewide vote at about 20%, with higher support in regional areas.
Victorian Nationals leader Danny O’Brien says the party is trying to counter One Nation by speaking with voters and highlighting local candidates.
The Nationals hold nine seats in the lower house and are targeting Bendigo East, Bendigo West and Ripon.
Regional concerns include the cost of living, interest rates, roads, hospitals and changes to local industries.
- Who
- The Victorian Nationals, led by Danny O’Brien, face a challenge from One Nation.
- What
- One Nation’s rising support threatens the Nationals’ regional seats in Victoria.
- When
- Ahead of the Victorian state election in November. The article was published on 9 October 2026.
- Where
- Regional Victoria, including the Nationals’ seats and the targeted seats of Bendigo East, Bendigo West and Ripon.
- Why
- Polls show increased support for One Nation, while voters have concerns including cost of living, roads, hospitals and changes to local industries.
Victorian Nationals
One Nation
Electoral threat
Victorian Nationals
Danny O’Brien says a vote for One Nation could give Labor a path to victory “through the middle”. Nationals MP Jade Benham calls One Nation the party’s biggest threat.
One Nation
One Nation is attracting voters who want to “shake things up”; the article does not state the party’s response to the Nationals’ claims.
One Nation are 100% our biggest threat.
It’s not even about the candidate. The candidate is kind of inconsequential. It’s the brand now.
There are no safe seats and frankly, they haven’t been for a long time.
state of flux
The Nationals picked up three seats from independents, bringing their lower-house total to nine.
Victorian Labor internal polling leaked and showed the Nationals could face a wipeout at the November state election.
Danny O’Brien spoke with a woman herding cows near Poowong who said she liked One Nation and wanted to shake things up.
The woman emailed O’Brien to offer space on her family paddock for one of his signs.
Victoria is due to hold its state election.
- Nationals lower-house seats
- 9
- Nationals’ 2022 result
- Picked up 3 seats from independents
- One Nation statewide vote
- About 20%, according to polls cited in the article
- Nationals’ targeted seats
- Bendigo East, Bendigo West and Ripon
- Election timing
- November state election
Sources
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