James Brown is expected to be endorsed in the coming days as the Liberal candidate for Mackellar as the party tries to wrest back the northern Sydney seat from teal independent Sophie Scamps.
The 44-year-old father-of-two spent more than a decade in the Australian army before serving as president of RSL NSW and chief executive of the Space Industry Association.
His national profile was also boosted through his marriage to Daisy Turnbull, the daughter of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, before the pair separated during the pandemic.
James Brown married Lucy Turnbull prior to her father Malcolm becoming prime minister in 2015. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Brown said people in Mackellar were facing skyrocketing rents, mortgages, food, petrol and energy.Â
"People are doing it really tough," he told Sky News.
"I know a Liberal government is the best way to fix those problems."
The area had been considered conservative heartland, with local MPs serving as ministers in the Gorton, McMahon, Fraser and Howard governments.
But a teal wave during the 2022 election felled incumbent Jason Falinski as the Liberal primary vote fell below 50 per cent for the first time in half a century.
Ms Scamps holds the seat on a 2.5 per cent margin.
Independent MP Sophie Scamps took the seat of Mackellar from the Liberals in 2022. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Brown previously had pre-selection tilts at Liberal Senate seats left vacant by former defence minister Marise Payne and the late Jim Molan.
He was also heavily involved in the party's recent failed campaign to retain the state seat of Pittwater, which makes up about half of Mackellar.
Liberal Georgia Ryburn lost the October 19 by-election to former Scamps advisor and Climate 200-backed candidate Jacqui Scruby.
"Mackellar is an extraordinary place and we are all very fortunate to be a part of the Northern Beaches community," Mr Brown said.
"I will be a tireless campaigner in the fight to protect its unique character."
The Liberals are still to pre-select a candidate for the neighbouring seat Warringah, held by two-term teal Zali Steggall.
TV presenter Jaimee Rogers is among the frontrunners to win the chance to take back Tony Abbott's former seat.
The next federal election is expected in May.
