on the death in august 1933 of mccombs' husband james, who had held his parliamentary seat of lyttelton since 1913, it was suggested that elizabeth mccombs herself should be the labour party's new candidate for the lyttelton seat. some members of the party were initially hesitant, but she was eventually selected as the labour candidate. when the 1933 by-election was held, mccombs won resoundingly: james had been returned by only 32 votes in the 1931 elections, but elizabeth received a majority of 2600 votes, electing her the first woman member of parliament.