One Nation is struggling to field enough candidates for the Victorian state election despite polling that shows growing support for the party [1, 2].
The shortage creates a critical bottleneck for Pauline Hanson's party. While current data suggests a surge in voter interest, the inability to run candidates in a majority of districts could prevent that support from translating into actual parliamentary seats.
With the election scheduled for November 2026, the party has less than 100 days to finalize its slate [3]. One Nation has yet to announce about 80 lower-house candidates [1]. This gap persists even as the party attempts to capitalize on a shifting political climate in Victoria.
Recent polling indicates a significant shift in primary voter preference. A Roy Morgan poll placed One Nation at 26.5% [2], slightly ahead of the Labor party, which sat at 25.5% [2]. This positioning suggests a strong appetite for an alternative to the current government, though the party's infrastructure has not yet matched its popularity.
James Bolt, a contributor for News24, said the trend represents a protest vote. "It’s a pure and simple protest vote [for Victorians]. You would think, like a protest vote, would be the Liberal Party … they’re going to go heavy on One Nation," Bolt said.
To bolster its presence, the party has recently revealed its Victorian state leader and upper-house candidates [4]. Efforts to raise funds and visibility continue, including a fundraiser held in Melbourne [4]. However, the urgency remains high to fill the remaining lower-house vacancies before the registration deadlines.
“One Nation has yet to announce about 80 lower-house candidates.”
The discrepancy between One Nation's polling numbers and its candidate list highlights a common challenge for populist parties: the gap between broad voter sentiment and organizational capacity. If the party cannot field candidates in the 80 missing seats, it will be unable to capture a significant portion of the primary vote it currently leads in, potentially wasting its momentum and benefiting established parties.
