There is speculation in local Liberal Party circles the next Liberal Member for MacKillop could be former Federal politician Nicolle Flint.

The next tate poll is almost three years away but a new Liberal Party candidate is needed after incumbent Nick McBride quit the party last week to become an Independent.

Mr McBride announced late last week he would seek a third term in 2026 and stand as an Independent.

Liberal Party insiders anticipate pre-selection for MacKillop will take place either late this year or early in 2024.

Ms Flint retired from federal politics in 2022 after serving two terms as the Liberal MHR for the marginal Adelaide metropolitan seat of Boothby.

She remains active in public life as a political commentator on television and in newspaper columns.

Last month, Ms Flint was appointed to the board of the Sturt Football Club.

The 44-year-old spent her formative years in Kingston.

Known as a member of the party’s conservative wing, Ms Flint was among the 15 state and federal MPs who attended the 50th birthday party of Mr McBride at Robe in 2019.

Her father is Evan Flint who is the current Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast chairman and a former Kingston Mayor.

Mr McBride had narrowly won Liberal Party preselection for the seat of MacKillop in 2017 and defeated Peter Gandolfi (Millicent), Tom Dawkins, Kristie McTernan and Derek James (Naracoorte), David Edwards (Padthaway)and Jo Edwards (Wolseley).

A vacancy arose due to the decision of long-serving Liberal Mitch Williams to retire at the 2018 poll.

There has never been a female MP from either of the South East region’s two state seats while the federal seat of Barker has always had a male MHR.