The results of the local government elections and two state by-elections have sent a warning shot to some of the biggest names in state politics — the Opposition Leader and the Deputy Premier — as the community reacts to the historic and existential threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are little more than 200 days until Queensland goes to the polls again on October 31 for the state election and judging by the weekend's results, the mood in the electorate seems to be one of extreme caution in changing leaders.

Take the race for Brisbane Lord Mayor, the single largest casting of votes, as an example.

Candidates Patrick Condren and Adrian Schrinner earlier in their campaigns, before social distancing rules. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

Before the outbreak, Labor felt the position was there for the taking.

The Liberal National Party incumbent Adrian Schrinner had been gifted the role thanks to the retirement of the popular former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and did not have anywhere near the same name recognition.

It brought back memories of the election of 2004, when Labor's Tim Quinn took over from Jim Soorley, only to be beaten at the ballot box by Campbell Newman.

But 2020 threw up a twist no-one saw coming — a pandemic that sucked attention away from politics and turned it to people's health and financial wellbeing.

It has been estimated that 51,000 Queenslanders are already out of a job, with more expected to follow.

Entire news bulletins have been consumed with frightening glimpses of the havoc wrought overseas and the devastation COVID-19 could bring here, with little time left for a more prosaic discussion of roads, rates and rubbish.

Labor's Brisbane challenger, Pat Condren, fell well short of the swing required and conceded to Cr Schrinner on Sunday afternoon.

Tom Tate retained the Gold Coast, and sitting mayors were also leading the counts on the Sunshine Coast (Mark Jamieson), Townsville (Jenny Hill), Toowoomba (Paul Antonio), Cairns (Bob Manning), Rockhampton (Margaret Strelow) and Bundaberg (Jack Dempsey).

Tom Tate, who was re-elected on Saturday, with his wife Ruth outside the City of Gold Coast council chambers. ( ABC News: Solua Middleton )

Jackie Trad risks losing her seat to Greens

The return of incumbents however, ought not reassure the Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad.

Ms Trad's seat of South Brisbane maps directly over the same area as the local government ward of The Gabba, where the ABC's election computer has the incumbent Greens firebrand councillor Jonathan Sri returned with a swing of more than 11 per cent toward him.

Last election, Trad only had 500 more first preference votes than the Greens' Amy McMahon and only fell over the line thanks to the LNP directing preferences her way.

The LNP is not making the same mistake this time, and is recommending its sizeable chunk of the electorate put Ms Trad last.

By-election tests wider support for Team Frecklington

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington is also tiptoeing on hot sand over the Currumbin by-election on the Gold Coast.

Ms Frecklington has been the LNP leader since 2017. ( AAP: Samantha Manchee )

That's because we've become used to protest votes against governments in by-elections.

It allows voters to express their displeasure with a government without going all the way to removing it.

We saw it in 2006 when the Beattie government lost the Gold Coast seat of Gaven at a by-election in April only to pick it back up at the general election in September.

So holding Currumbin should be a given for Team Frecklington and its candidate Laura Gerber, even taking into account the close margin and the bombs being thrown by the recently retired MP Jann Stuckey.

But early counting shows not a protest vote, but a swing towards the Labor candidate, Kaylee Campradt.

A win would be extraordinary.

According to one senior Labor figure, you have to go back to 1951 to find the last time an ALP government won a conservative-held seat at a by-election.

A historic loss like that, or even a close call, would raise questions about Ms Frecklington's ability to lead the LNP to victory at the October 31 state election.

Whether there is an appetite within the LNP for a leadership change is another thing entirely.

A spill just months out from the poll is a risky proposition for any potential challenger.

The revolving door in Canberra has proved to be an electoral turn-off and if the weekend's local government elections are a guide, perhaps people are less willing to change horses during what is an unprecedented time of global turmoil.