downer retired from politics triggering a 2008 mayo by-election. labor opted not to run a candidate. jamie briggs retained the seat for the liberals on a 3 per cent two-candidate margin against greens candidate lynton vonow, once again transforming mayo into a marginal seat. at the 2010 election, the seat was won by the liberals on a fairly safe two-party margin for only the third time, before once again becoming a safe liberal seat at the 2013 election.