another redistribution following the 1998 election made mayo a notionally safe two-party liberal seat with an extra 1 per cent added to the two-party margin. downer would be comfortably returned in mayo until his political retirement. at the 2001 election, labor returned to second place after preferences. at the 2004 election, independent candidate brian deegan polled a 15 per cent primary vote, overtook labor after preferences, and polled a 38.2 per cent two-candidate vote. downer recorded his and mayo's lowest winning two-party result at the 2007 election with a much reduced 7.1 per cent two-party margin after a 6.5 per cent two-party swing.