Miners Rest resident Andrew Black, 27, who teaches law at Australian Catholic University, beat Ararat Rural City councillor Jo Armstrong, who some Nationals members worry could be selected over Mr Black despite winning less votes at the meeting in Ballarat.

A committee of senior Nationals figures will decide whether Mr Black will get the third spot on the ticket behind sitting Liberal members Simon Ramsay and Josh Morris ahead of November’s state election. 

The Nationals hope to topple Port Fairy-based independent member James Purcell, who pulled off a surprise win in 2014. 

If Mr Black is selected he could become the first sitting Nationals member from Ballarat since Russell White, who held the seat of Ballarat North from 1945 until 1960.

“It’s been a long time between drinks,” Mr Black told The Courier today.

“I feel very honoured and very humbled to get such strong support.”

The pre-selection vote comes amid a push within the Nationals to recruit more women, with frontbencher Darren Chester previously saying the party “was more than blokes in big hats”.

However, some sources said the third ticket spot should go to Mr Black as it reflected the will of the party’s rank and file.

“It’s only fair,” one party member who did not want to be named said.

It is expected the committee will make a decision within a week.

Mr Black, whose family has farmed around Ballarat for 180 years, listed decentralisation, fixing country roads and cost of living issues as key priorities in this year’s election.

Ms Armstrong was contacted for comment but was unable to be reached.