2023 Samara Oblast gubernatorial election

The 2023 Samara Oblast gubernatorial election took place on 8–10 September 2023, on common election day. Incumbent Governor Dmitry Azarov was re-elected to a second term in office.

2023 Samara Oblast gubernatorial election

← 2018 8–10 September 2023 2024 →
Turnout	53.74%
CPRF Candidate Dmitry Azarov Aleksey Leskin Party United Russia CPRF Popular vote 1,086,187 87,252 Percentage 83.82% 6.73%
Governor before election Dmitry Azarov United Russia Governor-elect Dmitry Azarov United Russia

Background

Federation Council member Dmitry Azarov, a former Mayor of Samara, was appointed acting Governor of Samara Oblast in September 2017, replacing controversial 5-year Governor Nikolay Merkushkin, who resigned at his own request.^[1] Azarov overwhelmingly won the 2018 gubernatorial election in his own right with 72.63% of the vote over a field of 5 opponents.^[2]

Candidates

In Samara Oblast candidates for Governor can be nominated only by registered political parties, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidates are not obliged to be members of the nominating party. Candidate for Governor of Samara Oblast should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Governor should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 5% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.^[3] Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

Registered

• Dmitry Azarov (United Russia), incumbent Governor of Samara Oblast (2017–present)^[4][5]
• Aleksey Leskin (CPRF), Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Duma (2016–present), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2007–present), 2018 gubernatorial candidate^[6][7]
• Mikhail Maryakhin (SR–ZP), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2011–present), 2015 and 2018 gubernatorial candidate^[8][9]
• Sergey Pukhayev (New People), businessman^[10]
• Aleksandr Stepanov (LDPR), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2016–present), 2018 gubernatorial candidate^[11][12]

Failed to qualify

• Grigory Yeremeyev (DPR), pensioner, perennial candidate^[13]

Declined

• Mikhail Abdalkin (CPRF), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2021–present)^[14]
• Gennady Govorkov (CPRF), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2016–present)^[6]
• Alexander Khinshtein (United Russia), Member of State Duma (2003–2016, 2018–present), Chairman of the Duma Committee on Informational Policy, Technologies and Communications (2020–present)^[15][16]
• Vladimir Koshelev (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2021–present)^[14]
• Andrey Lugovoy (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2007–present)^[11]
• Mikhail Matveyev (CPRF), Member of State Duma (2021–present), 2014 gubernatorial candidate^[6]
• Aleksandr Mileyev (United Russia), Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Duma (2021–present), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2011–present)^[15]
• Aleksey Mitrofanov (SR–ZP), Member of Samarsky City District Council of Deputies (2020–present)^[11]
• Yaroslav Nilov (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2011–present), Chairman of the Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs (2016–present)^[17]

Candidates for Federation Council

• Dmitry Azarov (United Russia):
  • Dmitry Kholin, Member of Samara Regional Duma (2021–present)
  • Farit Mukhametshin, incumbent Senator from Samara Oblast (2018–present)
  • Yelena Sazonova, former Member of Duma of Tolyatti (2013–2018), AvtoVAZ union activist

• Aleksey Leskin (CPRF):
  • Mikhail Matveyev, Member of State Duma (2021–present), 2014 gubernatorial candidate
  • Vasily Vorobyev, Member of Duma of Tolyatti (2018–present), businessman
  • Marina Yerina, Member of Samara Regional Duma (2021–present)

• Mikhail Maryakhin (SR–ZP):
  • Maksim Guseynov, Member of Samara Regional Duma (2021–present)
  • Dmitry Makarenko, businessman
  • Aleksandr Razuvayev, Member of Duma of Tolyatti (2018–present), former Member of Samara Regional Duma (2011–2016)

• Sergey Pukhayev (New People):
  • Vadim Drykov, businessman
  • Sergey Lushin, road construction executive
  • Dmitry Zavyalov, foundation director

• Aleksandr Stepanov (LDPR):
  • Sergey Andrusenko, aide to State Duma member Vladimir Koshelev
  • Maria Voronina, pensioner
  • Yelena Yashina, Samara State University of Economics employee, business coach

Polls

Fieldwork date	Polling firm	Azarov	Leskin	Stepanov	Maryakhin	Pukhayev	None	Lead
25 July – 10 August 2023	FOM	80%	7%	6%	5%	2%	1%	73%

Results

Summary of the 8–10 September 2023 Samara Oblast gubernatorial election results

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Dmitry Azarov (incumbent)	United Russia	1,086,187	83.82
	Aleksey Leskin	Communist Party	87,252	6.73
	Aleksandr Stepanov	Liberal Democratic Party	55,514	4.28
	Mikhail Maryakhin	A Just Russia — For Truth	22,635	1.75
	Sergey Pukhayev	New People	22,535	1.74
Valid votes			1,274,123	98.33
Blank ballots			21,655	1.67
Total			1,295,780	100.00
Turnout			1,295,780	53.74
Registered voters			2,411,123	100.00
Source:				[18]

Governor Azarov re-appointed incumbent Senator Farit Mukhametshin (Independent) to the Federation Council.^[19]

See also

• 2023 Russian regional elections