[4][5] The National Party chose Carnarvon hotel and pub owner Merome Beard as their candidate in late June.

[8][9] Labor was yet to decide if it will put forward a candidate as of mid-July, with there being little upside to winning considering the party already had 53 out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

[9] Premier Mark McGowan was opposed to fielding a candidate, whereas cabinet minister Alannah MacTiernan was strongly in favour.

By 8 August, Labor had decided not to field a candidate, with McGowan saying that by-elections historically have been difficult for governments to win.

[11] The opposition used Labor's lack of candidacy to suggest that the government doesn't care about regional areas.