Hurn Concedes SA Election Loss, Liberals Face Future Tests

South Australian liberal leader Ashton Hurn has conceded defeat in the state election after her party clung to just a few seats.

Poles have predicted a total wipeout, but they managed to hold on in places like her own electorate of Schubert, despite a sharp drop in primary votes.

It was a tough night for the opposition, facing a strong labor hold on power.

Hurn stepped into the leadership role just three and a half months before the vote, taking over amid dire internal polling from February.

Her short four-week campaign dealt with federal issues she couldn't control, like leadership drama and tricky preference deals with one nation that didn't pay off.

She drew on her rural roots and family sports background to rally supporters through the grind.

Party figures like federal senator Ann Rustin praised Hurn's strong performance in saving seats, many thought were gone.

Supporters see her as a fighter born for the campaign trail, even as the results echoed a losing season on the farm, or late game sports comeback.

That fell short.

Now, tensions brew between moderate and conservative wings over the party's future direction.

Critics say, leaning left won't win seats, while others push for a broader appeal, like in John Howard's era.

Hurn herself admitted plenty of lessons to learn from the loss.

With a federal by-election in fairer coming up soon, plus a Victorian state poll later this year, the Liberals face quick tests ahead.

One nation plans to push hard, and how Hurn's team reflects and adapts could shape their next moves.

That wraps Adelaide News today, brought to you with AI. I'm Cory with The Story.