Mr Bickley will run in the seat of Bendigo East against incumbent MP Jacinta Allan. 

Mr Lyons has been endorsed in the seat of Bendigo West, and will try to unseat Maree Edwards. 

The party endorsed both candidates on Thursday night, and a campaign headquarters was set up in Bull Street Friday.

Mr Lyons said he would campaign with and without Mr Bickley on several issues. 

“One of the main issues is affordable housing," he said. 

“I look at Luke Owens and what he’s done across the electorate and I think it’s fantastic.

“I’d also like to push for the industrial park out at Marong.

“That’s something I’d really like to see getting up and running this year.

The 42-year-old said he also wanted recreation reserves built at Kangaroo Flat and said Bendigo had been underrepresented.

Ms Edwards said she had held the government accountable for cuts to services including TAFE, which she said had impacted the most vulnerable in the community.

“Given Victoria’s on knife’s edge and the government holds power by one seat, this election will be a very tight contest,” she said.

“People who know me know I have worked extremely hard since being elected and strive to do the best I can.”

Ms Edwards was voted in at the last election and Ms Allan has been a member since 1999. 

Mr Bickley ran in the federal seat of Bendigo against ALP candidate Lisa Chesters, but was unsuccessful despite a swing towards him. 

Ms Allan said education, transport and employment would be key issues in Bendigo. 

"I will continue to take (Mr Bickley) and the Liberal Party on over key things that matter for families and workers in the Bendigo community," she said. 

Ms Allan was critical Mr Bickley's federal campaign. 

"People in the community want their political representatives to talk about the issues that matter them ... I hope that would be the focus of the coming campaign," she said. 

Mr Bickely would not provide comment to The Bendigo Advertiser, but a press release said he would speak to local residents.