South Australia Election 2026: Labor Secures Landslide Victory, One Nation Gains Ground

Peter Malinauskas has led the Labor Party to a decisive victory in the 2026 South Australian state election, securing a second term as Premier as reported by 9News. While Labor celebrates a commanding win, the rise of One Nation is significantly reshaping the political landscape in South Australia.

Labor’s Dominant Performance

The Labor Party is projected to win 31 of the 47 lower house seats, with a potential increase to 35 seats once all votes are tallied and doubtful seats are assigned according to The Poll Bludger’s results. This represents a substantial gain from the 2022 election, which was already a strong win for the party. The Liberals are facing one of their worst defeats in state history, projected to secure only four seats.

One Nation’s Surge

One Nation has emerged as a significant force in South Australian politics, garnering 20.8% of the primary vote – an 18.5% increase as reported by The Poll Bludger. While they have secured only one seat so far, One Nation’s strong showing places them ahead of the Liberals in primary votes, signaling a shift in voter preferences. 7NEWS notes that no seat has been won by the far-right party yet.

Liberal Party Faces Historic Defeat

The Liberal Party is experiencing a significant setback, with projections indicating they will win only four seats. This outcome could be one of the worst in their history, potentially rivaling their defeat in 1993 when Labor was ousted after 11 years in power as highlighted by 7NEWS. The party risked being wiped from metropolitan Adelaide entirely.

Key Vote Statistics

• Labor Primary Vote: 37.8% (down 1.9% from 2022)
• One Nation Primary Vote: 20.8% (up 18.5%)
• Liberal Primary Vote: 18.4% (down 16.9%)
• Greens Primary Vote: 12.0% (up 1.9%)
• Independents Primary Vote: 5.6% (up 2.9%)
• Labor vs. Liberal Two-Party Estimate: 59.2% – 40.8% (4.6% swing to Labor)

Source: The Poll Bludger

Looking Ahead

While the Labor Party has secured a strong mandate for a second term, the significant gains made by One Nation signal a changing political landscape in South Australia. The final seat counts and upper house results are still being determined, with some votes requiring realignment due to initial errors in candidate selection by the electoral commission. Further details, including upper house results, are expected to be released next week as reported by The Conversation.