Wade worked as a Parliamentary Advisor at a state and federal level, including to former Minister for Health Dr Michael Armitage.

Keynes was widely seen as the favourite, particularly after the victory of conservative Cory Bernardi in a vote to fill a Senate vacancy in March, but in an upset result, Wade won 112–84–32 respectively in the first round of balloting, and 134–96 in the second.

He was subsequently appointed to the vacancy on 2 May, the first sitting day of the new parliament, and served out the remaining four years of Redford's term.

In March 2020, with the declaration of a major emergency, Wade became a central figure in South Australia’s response to COVID-19.

With the election of the Malinauskas Government, Wade returned to backbench and now sits on several parliamentary committees.