He confirmed he would recontest for the upper house and lend his support to Ms Wilson in the hopes of forming a Liberal government in the 2022 election.
“No, not the result I wanted. But it’s democracy, this is how democracy works,” Mr Davis said.
“[Ms Wilson is] a very good person, and she’ll be a good candidate. I wish her well, and she’ll have my full support.”
Former Liberal premier Ted Baillieu declared his support for Ms Wilson on Saturday night, describing her as a “highly capable, intelligent and experienced individual with a wide support base”.
“She is a proud liberal and has a terrific and impressive track record.”
Senior Liberal sources have speculated outgoing MP Tim Smith — once considered a future leader who crashed his car while drunk in October — was likely to trigger a byelection rather than see out the next year, given he supported Mr Davis to take Kew.
An October 2021 redrawing of electoral boundaries means the seat – once a Liberal stronghold – is notionally held by just 4.5 per cent.
Michael O’Brien outside the Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday after being re-endorsed.Credit:Eddie Jim
The vote was also contested by lawyer Monica Clark, Victoria Police acting senior sergeant Felicity Sinfield, construction firm executive Lucas Moon and construction manager Michael Sabljak.
Earlier on Saturday, former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien survived a challenge and was re-endorsed as the candidate for Malvern.
It is extremely rare for a sitting MP to be challenged. On Sunday, James Newbury will also need to survive a preselection challenge in the seat of Brighton.
Mr O’Brien won a preselection vote 99-57-4 at Caulfield Racecourse after a tilt from Stonnington councillor Alexander Lew and Virginia Wallace, a director of Tennis Victoria, in the months after he was ousted as party leader.
Following his successful preselection battle, Mr O’Brien said he planned to discuss a potential return to the shadow cabinet with Mr Guy.
“I love the fact I’ve got such an overwhelming endorsement from local Liberal party members … Today, the Liberal Party backed me and I’m delighted by that,” he said.
“I just want to see Victoria have a better government than the one they’ve got at the moment, and I’ll do anything that I can to try and help us get there.
“I understand there’s a vacancy now in shadow cabinet, I’ll certainly have that conversation with Matthew [Guy] and the leadership team.”
With Ashleigh McMillan
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