Georgina Downer wins Liberal preselection for Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo, will contest Federal Election next year

FEDERAL political aspirant Georgina Downer has won a preselection battle for the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo, and will again take on Rebekha Sharkie in the next election.

FEDERAL political aspirant Georgina Downer will again take on Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie for the Adelaide seat of Mayo with a vow to do at least one thing differently this time around — win.

Ms Downer, the daughter of former Howard Government minister Alexander, who held the seat for 24 years, has won a preselection battle to run for the seat at the next Federal Election.

On July 28 Ms Downer lost in a bid to represent the electorate after being steamrolled by Ms Sharkie in Super Saturday by-election.

Ms Downer told The Advertiser there will be one significant difference for round two.

“I will win, that will be the difference,” Ms Downer said.

“I will also have more time, that will afford me the opportunity to meet more people.

“I am really looking forward to meeting people from the new parts of the electorate.”

Mayo will take in voters from Port Willunga, Aldinga, Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach for the first time at the next Federal Election.

Liberal candidate Georgina Downer with her father Alexander Downer during the Mayo by-election in July. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

Ms Downer, who faced accusations at the by-election of not being a local, after living interstate and overseas for a numbers of years, said she was loving living back in the region where she grew up.

“The reality is my husband and I are raising our two children here

“We love being back home.

“We are raising our kids in one of the best places in the world.”

A ballot of party members was held near McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, today.

The Advertiser understands Ms Downer convincingly defeated human resources manager Reagan Garner in the ballot with one insider suggesting she won 238 votes to 30.

After the by-election in July the Downer family raised concerns about bullying and online trolls during the campaign.