He was endorsed by Berejiklian, Senator Marise Payne and her partner, former state Cabinet minister Stuart Ayres (who was the state member for Penrith until 2023). He was ultimately defeated in the final vote to Maria Kovacic, with 243 votes compared to Kovacic's 287
Berejiklian, Senator Marise Payne and her partner, former state Cabinet minister Stuart Ayres (who was the state member for Penrith until 2023), backed him. Nevertheless, he ultimately lost the final vote to Maria Kovacic, with a majority of 287-243