When Tyson Koh took over the reins of Keep Sydney Open in 2014, he thought all he had to do was organise one big protest to get the state government to roll back the lockout laws that had crippled the city’s nightlife.

Now Mr Koh has registered Keep Sydney Open as a political party and is running for the upper house in the NSW election, along with Sydney City councillor Jess Miller and Mardi Gras director Jesse Matheson.

Keep Sydney Open party founder Tyson Koh and upper house candidate, Jess Miller. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Mr Koh has high hopes of winning at least one - if not three - seats on the state legislative council. Ms Miller, meanwhile, says she "is not getting ahead of herself".

Keep Sydney Open also plans to run candidates in up to 30 lower house seats, hoping to tap into the broader protest sentiment currently plaguing the major parties.