Miquela Riley and Linda Aitken lead race to replace Christian Porter as Liberal candidate for must-win Pearce

Grassroots members of the WA Liberal Party will pick Christian Porter’s replacement in the must-win seat of Pearce, in what’s shaping up to be a preselection contest between two women. Miquela Riley and Linda Aitken, who both stood unsuccessfully at previous State elections, have put their hands up ahead of Monday’s deadline for nominations. Former State MP Alyssa Hayden said she was approached about standing but decided against it, while City of Bayswater councillor Michelle Sutherland said she had ruled herself out after some consideration. Liberal sources said flying instructor Ray Werndly, a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot, was another potential contender, although senior party figures want a woman to replace Mr Porter. The WA Liberal Party state council on Saturday confirmed their Pearce candidate would be decided by a plebiscite vote involving party members who live or work in Pearce. The ballot will be held on December 20, where the nominees will be invited to make their case in person to the rank-and-file. It’ll be the first contested plebiscite since new rules were introduced on a trial basis as part reforms aimed at reducing the influence of party powerbrokers. Ms Riley is a former navy officer who ran for the Liberals in the unwinnable seat of Fremantle at the State election in March. She’s currently a manager at PwC Australia. After the election loss she joined the party’s Subiaco branch in what was perceived as a step towards preselection for the electorate of Nedlands at the 2025 State poll. The 33-year-old has the backing of former party president Danielle Blain, who co-authored a review which partly blamed the State election disaster on factional powerbrokers. Ms Aitken, an operating theatre nurse, has been a City of Wanneroo councillor since 2013. She was beaten by Labor’s John Quigley in the seat of Butler at State elections in 2013, 2017 and 2021. If the contest remains a two-horse race it will be framed as battle between a rising star of the party in Ms Riley, who is not a local in Pearce, and a veteran local councillor with strong ties to the seat. Despite the Liberals holding the seat with a 5.2 per cent margin, Labor’s Tracey Roberts, who has been Wanneroo Mayor for the past decade, will be considered favourite to win. Ms Roberts stood down as president of the WA Local Government Association on December 1 after coming under pressure from other mayors due to her conflict of interest as a Labor candidate. Morawa Shire president Karen Chappel is WALGA’s acting president.