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.
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]
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.
Aleksey Leskin (CPRF), Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Duma (2016–present), Member of Samara Regional Duma (2007–present), 2018 gubernatorial candidate[6][7]
Yaroslav Nilov (LDPR), Member of State Duma (2011–present), Chairman of the Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs (2016–present)[17]