Xenophon’s former girlfriend a likely candidate for rival party

Nick Xenophon’s former long-term girlfriend is set to ­announce her candidacy with rival party Advance SA.

Nick Xenophon’s former girlfriend Jenny Low. Picture: Kellie Barnes

Nick Xenophon is facing a new challenge in his bid to return to the South Australian parliament and lead his SA Best party to a balance of power position, with his former long-term girlfriend set to ­announce her candidacy with rival party Advance SA.

Jenny Low, 34, who has a behavioural science degree, has been a staffer for 10 years with former Xenophon MP John Darley, and will run on an upper-house ticket for Mr Darley’s new party at the state election due on March 17.

Before Ms Low’s decade-long stint in Mr Darley’s office, she worked for Mr Xenophon when he sought to switch from the South Australian Upper House to the Senate in 2007.

Mr Xenophon said a “romantic” relationship developed only after Ms Low finished working for him as his ­campaign manager in ­November 2007.

Mr Darley is a former valuer-general and was Mr Xenophon’s second running mate on his No Pokies ticket in the 2006 state election. However the two fell out in 2015.

Ms Low is expected to formally announce her run for the SA upper house this morning.