# 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.

## 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. Azarov overwhelmingly won the 2018 gubernatorial election in his own right with 72.63% of the vote over a field of 5 opponents.

## 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. 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)
* Aleksey Leskin (CPRF), Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Duma (2016–present), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2007–present), 2018 gubernatorial candidate
* Mikhail Maryakhin (SR–ZP), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2011–present), 2015 and 2018 gubernatorial candidate
* Sergey Pukhayev (New People), businessman
* Aleksandr Stepanov (LDPR), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2016–present), 2018 gubernatorial candidate

### Failed to qualify

* Grigory Yeremeyev (DPR), pensioner, perennial candidate

### Declined

* Mikhail Abdalkin (CPRF), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2021–present)
* Gennady Govorkov (CPRF), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2016–present)
* 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)
* Vladimir Koshelev (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2021–present)
* Andrey Lugovoy (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2007–present)
* Mikhail Matveyev (CPRF), Member of State Duma (2021–present), 2014 gubernatorial candidate
* Aleksandr Mileyev (United Russia), Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Duma (2021–present), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2011–present)
* Aleksey Mitrofanov (SR–ZP), Member of Samarsky City District Council of Deputies (2020–present)
* Yaroslav Nilov (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2011–present), Chairman of the Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs (2016–present)

### 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 | 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 | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,274,123 | 98.33 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 21,655 | 1.67 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,295,780 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,295,780 | 53.74 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 2,411,123 | 100.00 |
| Source: | Source: | Source: | Source: | |
Governor Azarov re-appointed incumbent Senator Farit Mukhametshin (Independent) to the Federation Council.