Federal election 2022: Rex Patrick says he will “stay the course” to run for the Senate

SA Senator Rex Patrick will go up against his former boss Nick Xenophon in this year’s election, ruling out running for the outback seat of Grey.

Maverick South Australian senator Rex Patrick will take on his former boss, Nick Xenophon, in the race to retain his upper house seat.

Senator Patrick resisted temptations to run for the lower house seat of Grey, held by Liberal Rowan Ramsey, who now looks vulnerable in the face of soaring popularity for independent candidates.

“I have been urged to run for the federal seat of Grey, and as a Whyalla boy I felt obliged to give that possibility consideration,” Senator Patrick, pictured, said on Monday.

“But I’m no will-o’-the-wisp looking for any available political berth.

“Parliamentarians should stay the course once they have made a commitment, and I’ve committed to run for the Senate.”

SA Senator Rex Patrick has reconfirmed he will run for the Senate. Picture Matt Turner

Mr Xenophon has announced a hotly anticipated comeback, running for the Senate as an independent.

His decision followed a botched run at the 2018 state election, in which his SA-Best party failed to win a single lower house seat.

Mr Xenophon’s popularity is expected to significantly hurt Senator Patrick’s chances of retaining his seat.

“Nick Xenophon’s decision to throw his hat into the SA Senate contest has changed the political landscape. I’ve worked with Nick and I have a keen awareness of his political abilities,” said Senator Patrick, a former adviser to Mr Xenophon.

Senator Patrick will hinge his campaign on transparency issues – fighting for a federal ICAC and exposing government failures.