The Liberal Party has chosen former McKinsey consultant Simon Kennedy to contest the federal seat of Cook, following former prime minister Scott Morrison's resignation.

Mr Kennedy, who tried and failed to win the seat of Bennelong in 2022, beat three other candidates in a ballot of local party members on Monday night.

The mayor of Sutherland Shire, Carmelo Pesce, who came second with 90 votes, was considered a strong chance to win the party's nomination, however support for the millionaire businessman began falling away in recent days.

Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner Gwen Cherne was also considered an outside chance heading into the ballot, having won the endorsement of former prime minister John Howard.

Mr Kennedy is no stranger to political contests, having won the Liberal nomination for the northern Sydney seat of Bennelong in the 2022 federal election.

After failing to win the Victorian seat of Dunkley at the weekend, the upcoming Cook by-election will be a much easier contest for Peter Dutton's party.

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