 In 1994 she joined the Labor Party, and in the leadup to the 2002 state election gained preselection for the new seat of Hastings.Although the seat had a notional Liberal majority of around 8%, Buchanan narrowly defeated Liberal candidate Neale Burgess on the back of the Labor 'Brackslide'.At the 2006 election Buchanan was defeated by Neale Burgess.