Savage ran as an independent candidate for the seat of Mildura in the 1996 Victorian state election. Savage based his campaign on the neglect of rural Victoria by incumbent Premier Jeff Kennett's government, in particular its closure of "The Vinelander" rail service between Melbourne and Mildura. Savage was elected after picking up a large swing from the incumbent Liberal member Craig Bildstien, even as the Liberal state government was easily reelected. It was only the third time since the seat's creation in 1927 that it had been out of the hands of a conservative party.