King said in an interview that he knew that his position could end hopes of re-selection as a National Party candidate but that he needed to stand on his principles.

Four other candidates quit in protest and released a statement saying that they did not believe the party's culture showed it could successfully make change if elected.

[6][20] According to reporter Tony Wall, DemocracyNZ "had been seen as the leading light for the so-called freedom movement' until the exodus, and many candidates, volunteers, and donors left for New Zealand First.

[20] King said that while the party would aim to reach the 5% threshold at the next general election, he saw the most realistic option as winning his former electorate of Northland.

[4] A poll of September 2023 estimated support for King in Northland at 4 percent, making him the fourth-most popular candidate.

[6] In the 2023 general election, DemocracyNZ received 0.23% of the party vote and did not win any electorate seats, meaning it did not enter parliament.

The party's public statements focused on opposition to New Zealand's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to climate change regulations.