Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will leave state politics at the November 28 election, ending a 27-year parliamentary career.

The 52-year-old will not contest her seat of Bendigo East, just weeks after stepping down as Victoria’s premier following an internal Labor challenge.

Allan entered parliament in 1999 at the age of 25, becoming the youngest woman elected to the Victorian Parliament at the time, the first woman to represent Bendigo in an Australian parliament and the first Labor MP for Bendigo East.

During her career, she served as transport minister, deputy premier and eventually premier, taking over from Daniel Andrews in 2023.

Announcing her departure in Bendigo, Allan said she was proud of what had been achieved in her hometown, including investment in healthcare, education, transport and regional development.

Her resignation creates a new challenge for Labor ahead of the November election. Although Labor holds Bendigo East by more than 10 percentage points, the party is concerned the seat could become vulnerable to the Nationals.

Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean said Allan’s departure would not change his campaign, arguing that regional Victoria had been neglected by what he described as a “city-centric” government.

Allan’s political career has also included significant controversy, including the collapse of Victoria’s planned 2026 Commonwealth Games, which contributed to pressure on her government.

Her exit comes after a turbulent final chapter as premier. Earlier this month, Labor MPs and ministers told Allan she no longer had sufficient support to remain leader. Ben Carroll subsequently replaced her as premier.

In announcing her retirement, Allan reflected on her long career and said she had entered politics intending to make a difference.

She will now leave parliament after almost three decades in public life, ending one of the longest political careers in contemporary Victorian politics.