The revival of an Australian political dynasty has been put on hold but high profile Liberal candidate Georgina Downer will return for another tilt at her father's former seat of Mayo.
Ms Downer suffered a significant defeat at the hands of Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie in Saturday's by-election as the popular independent's vote surged by more than nine per cent.
The 38-year-old was seeking to return the seat to the Liberal fold, the seat her father and former foreign minister Alexander Downer, held for 24 years from 1984.
The Liberals believed her family's long connection with Mayo was a significant advantage.
But they also had to counter the argument that she had become an outsider after living interstate or overseas for most of the past 20 years.
Party figures conceded that was a factor in Saturday's result but have pointed to Ms Downer's determination and "absolute commitment" to run again and a pledge to once again make Mayo her permanent home.
She's also been endorsed by senior Liberal figures from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to SA party powerbroker Christopher Pyne and others who believe she will be a minister in a coalition government one day.
Her father agrees, convinced she will again win preselection next year.
"She won't just be a water carrier, she'll be one of the great leaders of this country in the years to come," he said on Saturday.
