2016 Democratic Party (Japan, 2016) leadership election

The 2016 Democratic Party leadership election was held on 15 September 2016. It was the party's first election since the formation of the party from the merger of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party. The race determined the successor of acting president Katsuya Okada who decided against running for a full term.^[1]

2016 Democratic Party leadership election

← 2015 15 September 2016 Sep 2017 →

Candidate Renho Seiji Maehara Yuichiro Tamaki Points 503 (59.25%) 230 (27.09%) 116 (13.66%) Caucus 80 (160pts) 42 (84pts) 25 (50pts)

President before election Katsuya Okada Elected President Renho

Candidates

Running

• Renho, former cabinet minister and sitting member of the House of Councillors.^[2]
• Seiji Maehara, former party president (2005–06) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-11).^[3][4]
• Yuichiro Tamaki, member of the House of Representatives and former bureaucrat.^[5][6]

Potential or has publicly expressed interest

• Akihisa Nagashima, former vice defense minister.^[7]

Declined to run

• Katsuya Okada, acting party president.^[1]
• Goshi Hosono, former party policy chief and candidate in the 2015 DPJ presidential election.^[8]

Results

Voting was held on 15 September, following a campaign period from 2 September.^[8]

Voting results^[9]

Candidates	Total points	Caucus	Endorsed candidates	Local councillors	Party members & supporters
Renhō	503pts (59.25%)	80 (160pts)	50 (50pts)	847 (126pts)	59,539 (167pts)
Seiji Maehara	230pts (27.09%)	42 (84pts)	44 (44pts)	335 (50pts)	26,045 (52pts)
Yūichiro Tamaki	116pts (13.66%)	25 (50pts)	24 (24pts)	207 (30pts)	9,808 (12pts)
Invalid votes	-	0	0	4	789
Total	849pts (100%)	147 (294pts)	118 (118pts)	1,393 (206pts)	96,181 (231pts)