Council & Politics
21 November, 2025
Liberals in six-way fight for Ripon
WITH a state election just 12 months away, the fight to claim the seat of Ripon is shaping as a three-way contest between Labor, the Liberals and Nationals. The Liberal Party is set to meet in early December to decide its candidate, with insiders saying a former Ballarat Mayor is emerging as the frontrunner.
Samantha McIntosh is one of six people seeking Liberal pre-selection along with Central Goldfields Councillor Ben Green, Triple-0 call taker Nathan Anderson, farmer Suzie Morro, police prosecutor Serge Petrovich and communications advisor Andrew Kilmartin.
Mr Anderson, Ms Morro and Mr Green all live in the Ripon electorate, while Ms McIntosh and Mr Kilmartin live in Ballarat and Mr Petrovich lives in the Macedon Ranges.
Ms McIntosh, Mr Petrovich and Mr Kilmartin have all run unsuccessfully for parliament before.
Ms McIntosh has previously been the Nationals candidate for Western Victoria as well as standing as a Liberal for the federal seat of Ballarat and the state seat of Wendouree.
Mr Petrovich has previously run as the Liberal candidate in Mallee and the Melbourne seat of McEwan and Mr Kilmartin stood for the Liberals in Buninyong in 2018.
Liberal Party members have told the Advocate Ms McIntosh has high recognition across the region and also has proven fundraising skills.
Liberal Party members will meet in Creswick on December 7 to decide their candidate.
It’s understood the Nationals will wait until the new year before deciding their candidate which is almost certain to be Ararat Rural City Councillor Jo Armstrong.
The Nationals have not contested Ripon since 2014 and hope Ms Armstrong’s high profile will help them win the seat.
Labor MP Martha Haylett won Ripon at the 2022 election with 52.9% of the two party vote.
