Most commentators predicted that the CLP's dominance in Drysdale would continue at the 2005 election, although the Australian Labor Party were running a high profile candidate, former AFL Northern Territory general manager Chris Natt. However, there was a significant swing to the ALP across the territory on election day, and Dunham was ultimately defeated, along with several other CLP sitting members. The final result took several days to be decided, making Drysdale one of the most marginal seats in the current parliament.