[1] Davenport was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Dandenong North in 1991 and gained a swing of over 8 per cent, but was unsuccessful by 19 votes.
She was Ministerial Advisor to Minister for Industry and Employment and Deputy Leader of the Liberal party Phil Gude from 1992 until 1996 when she was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Waverley Province at the age of 28.
She was the youngest woman elected in Victoria (with an 18-month-old son) and the first to give birth (eldest daughter), while serving as a Member of Parliament.
[citation needed] Davenport was the endorsed Liberal candidate in the seat of Mulgrave in 2018, standing against Daniel Andrews, however, was unsuccessful, blaming ‘leadership turmoil in the Coalition Federal Government’.
She is also company director of advocacy firm Regs and Corporate Advisory Pty Ltd, trading as Government and Corporate Advisory Network[3] (was Phoenix Public Affairs) which she founded in 2004, specialising in peak bodies, consumer advocacy, NFP, housing, aged care, health, building and industry sectors.