James Stevens wins Liberal preselection for Sturt

Christopher Pyne’s long-time campaign manager defeats conservative female candidates in race for Libs’ Sturt preselection.

James Stevens (right) will succeed Christopher Pyne as the Liberals’ candidate for Sturt. Picture: Facebook

Christopher Pyne’s long-time campaign manager has been preselected for the Liberal Party in the South Australian seat of Sturt.

James Stevens, aligned to Mr Pyne’s moderate faction, this morning defeated conservative candidates Joanna Andrew and Deepa Mathew in a vote at The Ellington function centre in the up-market Adelaide suburb of Hackney.

James Stevens. Picture: Supplied

It was the first Liberal preselection contest in Sturt since Mr Pyne defeated Fraser government minister Ian Wilson 26 years ago.

Mr Stevens, backed by Mr Pyne and fellow senior South Australian moderate Simon Birmingham, resigned as chief of staff to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall a day after Mr Pyne announced three weeks ago that he would not contest the upcoming federal election.

Mr Stevens previously worked in Mr Pyne’s office and has overseen his past four campaigns.

In a letter to preselectors this week, Mr Stevens, 35, said his greatest achievement in Sturt was helping fight off “the (Nick) Xenophon threat” as Mr Pyne’s campaign manager at the 2016 federal election.

Congratulations to @James_Stevens on being selected this morning as the candidate for Sturt in the upcoming federal election in front of a full house of party members.

Thank you also to @cpyne on a distinguished career representing the people of Sturt. pic.twitter.com/3Vdm0ZqiGX

— The SA Liberals (@LiberalSAHQ) March 23, 2019

In the same letter, former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone said Mr Stevens, dubbed the “Crown Prince” by one conservative, was a future cabinet member.

The Liberals hold Sturt, which takes in much of Adelaide’s leafy eastern suburbs, by a notional 5.4 per cent.

Sources at the meeting told The Australian that Mr Stevens received 218 votes, well clear of Ms Andrew’s 45 votes and Ms Mathew’s 11.

Joanna Andrew.

Deepa Mathew.

“I’m honoured to be selected as the candidate for the seat of Sturt and am looking forward to talking directly with people, businesses and their families in my community about the things that matter most to them,” Mr Stevens said.

“I’m excited about taking on this new role and am looking forward to drawing on my experience to connect with the electorate.”

One Liberal insider said Labor, which has preselected dispute mediator Cressida O’Hanlon, would relish Mr Stevens’ preselection because of an apparent push within Sturt for its first-ever female MP.

Labor’s candidate for Sturt, Cressida O’Hanlon. Picture: Tait Schmaal

This view was backed by a well-placed Labor source.

“Let’s just say it (Stevens standing) won’t do us any harm, but it still will be a very tough seat to win,” the source said.