[7][8] Light stated that he was motivated to become involved in politics at the 2002 general election after seeing Peter Dunne's memorable television debate with the "worm".
[9] He first stood for parliament at the 2008 general election in the North Shore electorate and ranked 13 on United Future's party list.
At the 2011 general election Light was again United Future's candidate for North Shore and was ranked 12 on the party list.
[12] Upon becoming party leader, Light stated he would prefer United Future to gravitate closer towards Labour than National as he claimed to possess a 'social conscience' and indicated his key area of policy concern was drug reform.
[6] Light ran for the Auckland Council as an independent in the 2018 Howick ward by-election, placing fourth behind the winner, businessman Paul Young.