You have to look all the way back to the Thatcher years to find a Conservative MP who held Norwich South.
Since John Powley's defeat in 1987, the seat has had three Labour representatives - including current MP Clive Lewis - and one Liberal Democrat.
David Thomas is hoping to defy the odds and end that drought.
Asked whether he was concerned people had already written him off, Mr Thomas said: "I'm not a token no-hope candidate.
"It's easy for me to go on the internet and find out what people think the probability of me winning is.
"But I'm excited for the challenge.
"Nobody should feel like they have to vote Labour because there isn't a suitable opposition.
"I want people to know I'm a viable Conservative candidate."
Why the Conservatives?
The Bristol-born 33-year-old started his career as a teacher in Westminster after graduating from the University of Oxford with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.
In January 2018, he became headteacher at Norwich's Jane Austen College, where he worked until joining the Department of Education as a government advisor in 2021.
"I went into teaching because I wanted to help close the gap in education between Norwich and where I was in London," he said.
"When I say that, I'm often asked why I'm not a member of the Labour Party.
"I do believe their hearts are in the right place, but I don't agree with the way they go about it.
"For example, the Welsh Labour Party scrapped triple-award GCSE science.
"I think all children should study this because it creates more opportunities and will help our economy in the long run.
"It's about increasing social mobility."
Those Clive Lewis comments:
Speaking on the news of Mr Thomas' selection earlier this month, Clive Lewis told this newspaper that he did not "fancy his chances" standing for a Conservative Party "cynically filching from the playbook of Trump".
"I don't want to get into tit-for-tat politics," Mr Thomas responded.
"Clive can say what he wants but people want us to focus on the big issues.
"I'm happy with the progress the government is making."
Does Norwich need more housing?
The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) has allocated 50,000 new homes for the Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland council areas by 2038.
"We do need to build more houses," said Mr Thomas.
"We need to give children the option of staying here, buying a home and raising a family.
"That comes from building more housing - whether that is affordable, social or standard.
"There are so many brownfield sites that could be used."
But can local services cope?
"We do need to invest in improving our infrastructure," he added.
"Norwich needs to be car-friendly and knee-jerk decisions like closing Exchange Street need to be thought out properly before being implemented.
"Public transport also has to be improved.
"We have a top university in the UEA, a science park, a growing technological sector and a strong cultural scene.
"We need to find a way to retain talent, and that is where building more houses comes in."
Mr Thomas also stressed the need to clear the asylum backlog, arguing a need for a "fair and sensible" solution to the issue of refugees being housed in two Norwich hotels.
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"Applications are either approved or rejected," he added.
"If approved, then they can contribute positively.
"If rejected, then they should go back to the country they left."
Health care
Norfolk as a whole suffers from a shortage of NHS dentists and GPs - with the region's largest hospital, the N&N, also having some of the worst bed-blocking in the country.
Speaking on this, Mr Thomas said: "The private sector relies a lot less on dentists and makes use of the wider set of professions within dentistry.
"This could work for the NHS and that is why I would support plans for a new dental school at the UEA.
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"In terms of bed blocking, social care is complex and it is not as simple as having more beds or staff.
"But again, this comes down to investing in our infrastructure."
Mr Thomas will stand against Labour's Clive Lewis and the Green Party's Jamie Osborn in the next election.
The Liberal Democrats are yet to announce their candidate for the seat.
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