Army veteran and former Senate candidate Warren Pickering has been officially named to lead One Nation into the upcoming Victorian state election this November. Pickering, who currently serves as the party's Victorian state president, will also stand as the party's candidate for the lower house seat of Pakenham.

Addressing reporters during the official campaign announcement, Pickering declared that One Nation is launching its largest state campaign in history, putting both major parties on notice as they prepare for a major electoral push.

Ambitions to Lead in Victoria

Pickering pushed back against suggestions that One Nation would seek a formal coalition arrangement with the Liberal Party, emphasizing that the party intends to campaign aggressively across the state to win seats in its own right.

"We don't see it. We can win in our own right," Pickering said, outlining plans to unveil the party's full policy platform within the next month. Early priority areas are expected to focus heavily on regional issues, agriculture, local crime reduction, and government integrity.

Shifting Political Landscape

The state election arrives during a tumultuous period for Victorian politics. Following a recent leadership challenge within the Labor Party, Ben Carroll recently assumed the premiership, replacing Jacinta Allan. The leadership contest highlighted growing pressure on the state government as minor parties and independents see expanding opportunities to capture voter interest.

Recent polling suggests growing support for minor parties across Victoria, with One Nation aiming to capitalize on voter frustration with the traditional party system.

Candidate Roster Announced

Alongside Pickering’s appointment, One Nation unveiled a slate of upper house candidates contesting Victoria's regional electors. Key figures include:

• Colleen Harkin: Former federal Liberal candidate and current director of education at the Institute of Public Affairs.
• Mark Nicholson: Co-director of Stepmate Studios and creator of the party's popular satirical animated series.
• Chris Burson: Geelong city councillor and former state parliamentary candidate.
• Aaron Sanford: Legal professional contesting an upper house region.
• Natalie Adams & Fiona Lopez: Representing administration and human resources backgrounds respectively.

Existing upper house member Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, who has represented Northern Victoria since 2022, will also recontest her seat.

Federal party leader Pauline Hanson confirmed the party intends to field candidates in all 88 Victorian Legislative Assembly seats, highlighting that candidate selection was driven by local community representatives across the state.