Nominations for the by-election closed on 1 February 2013. Rhianna Harker, who contested Wanguri at the 2012 general election, was endorsed by the Country Liberal Party as its candidate.[2] The Australian Labor Party candidate was Nicole Manison.[3] Peter Rudge contested the by-election as an independent candidate—he had previously stood as a candidate for Nightcliff in the 2012 election.[4]