Health Minister Zane DeSilva and Deputy Speaker Randy Horton won key victories at Progressive Labour Party branch elections tonight.But Bermuda's longest serving MP, Speaker Stanley Lowe, appears to have called time on his political career after he failed to show at the candidate selection meeting in his Southampton East constituency.Mr Lowe's absence meant an anticipated three-way battle between himself, Mr DeSilva and former Senate Leader David Burch became a two-horse race at the New Apostle Church.Mr DeSilva defeated Mr Burch 44 votes to 22, meaning he will switch to Southampton East from Southampton East Central at the next general election.Pundits believe that will reinforce his position in the House of Assembly because boundary changes mean Southampton East Central will now lean towards the One Bermuda Alliance.Meanwhile in Southampton West, Mr Horton beat lawyer Marc Daniels 36 votes to 27 at Dalton Tucker Primary School, giving him the chance to prolong his 13-year House career at the next election.Mr Lowe, an MP since 1968, had stated he had no intention of retiring when it emerged his seat was being coveted by Mr DeSilva and Mr Burch earlier this year.However close friends have been advising him to step aside as a string of younger members have been trying to make headway in the party.He joins Elvin James, Alex Scott and Walter Lister as retiring MPs at the next general election, while Ashfield DeVent and Darius Tucker will also move out of the House after they lost branch votes last night.A replacement for Mr DeSilva in Southampton East Central will be selected on Wednesday next week.