2018 Niigata gubernatorial election
A gubernatorial election was held on 10 June 2018 to elect the next Governor of Niigata. Incumbent Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama resigned on 18 April 2018 in the wake of a sex scandal.[2] This was also the first gubernatorial election in Niigata since the voting age was lowered to 18.
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Turnout | 58.25% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The election was initially expected to be a de facto referendum on the anti-nuclear policies pursued by Gov. Yoneyama, particularly his opposition to the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Central Niigata.[2][3] Both the pro-nuclear and the anti-nuclear camps are coalescing towards one candidate to represent each camp. The pro-nuclear camp will be represented by Hideyo Hanazumi, who is endorsed by the governing LDP and Komeito.[4] Anti-nuclear Chikako Ikeda will be the opposition's unity candidate in the election.[5]
In contrary to the policy of the parties that endorsed him, Hanazumi followed the opposition's line on nuclear energy, not unlike the one held by the incumbent governor.[6] Hanazumi won the gubernatorial election by a narrow 3.4% margin. He vowed to continue Governor Yoneyama's approach on the issue of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant restart and related safety evaluations. In his victory speech, he also mentioned the possibility of resigning and holding another election mid-term to ask the populace whether the reactor should be restarted or not.[6]
Candidates
Running
- Hideyo Hanazumi, former Deputy Governor of Niigata (2013–2015).[4] (endorsed by LDP and Komeito)
- Chikako Ikeda, member of the Niigata Prefectural Assembly (2015–present).[5] (endorsed by CDP, DPFP, JCP, SDP and LP)
- Satoshi Annaka, former member of the Gosen municipal assembly and independent candidate for the Niigata at-large district in the 2010 House of Councillors election.[3]
Declined
- Makiko Kikuta, member of the House of Representatives (2003–present).[7]
- Shigeaki Koga, former Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry bureaucrat and prominent Abe administration critic.[8][9]
- Etsuko Odaira, former mayor of Uonuma (2008–2016) and candidate for the Niigata 5th district in the 2017 general election.[10]
- Isato Kunisada, mayor of Sanjō and former Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications bureaucrat.[11]
Campaign
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Hideyo Hanazumi | 546,670 | 49.61 | ||
Independent | Chikako Ikeda | 509,568 | 46.25 | ||
Independent | Satoshi Annaka | 45,628 | 4.14 | ||
Total valid votes | 1,101,866 | 99.08 | |||
Rejected ballots | 10,261 | 0.92 | |||
Turnout | 1,112,127 | 58.25 | |||
Registered electors | 1,909,379 |
Breakdown
Division | Subdivision | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annaka Independent |
Hanazumi Independent |
Ikeda Independent |
Valid votes | Invalid votes | Turnout | ||||||||
Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total | % | ||
Cities | Niigata | 14,090 | 3.98 | 178,726 | 50.49 | 161,179 | 45.53 | 353,995 | 99.16 | 2,989 | 0.84 | 356,985 | 53.73 |
Kita-ku | 1,239 | 3.83 | 16,514 | 51.05 | 14,595 | 45.12 | 32,348 | 99.25 | 245 | 0.75 | 32,593 | 52.08 | |
Higashi-ku | 2,726 | 4.63 | 29,693 | 50.46 | 26,430 | 44.91 | 58,849 | 99.15 | 502 | 0.85 | 59,351 | 51.59 | |
Chūō-ku | 2,673 | 3.33 | 43,802 | 54.58 | 33,785 | 42.09 | 80,260 | 99.12 | 712 | 0.88 | 80,972 | 55.28 | |
Kōnan-ku | 1,331 | 4.41 | 15,423 | 51.09 | 13,436 | 44.50 | 30,190 | 99.20 | 244 | 0.80 | 30,434 | 53.16 | |
Akiha-ku | 1,457 | 4.12 | 16,074 | 45.48 | 17,813 | 50.40 | 35,344 | 99.23 | 273 | 0.77 | 30,434 | 54.98 | |
Minami-ku | 781 | 4.16 | 9,276 | 49.39 | 8,723 | 46.45 | 18,780 | 99.22 | 148 | 0.78 | 18,928 | 49.49 | |
Nishi-ku | 2,846 | 4.00 | 35,950 | 50.48 | 32,418 | 45.52 | 71,214 | 99.11 | 641 | 0.89 | 71,855 | 54.99 | |
Nishikan-ku | 1,037 | 3.84 | 11,994 | 44.41 | 13,979 | 51.75 | 27,010 | 99.17 | 225 | 0.83 | 27,235 | 55.20 | |
Nagaoka | 4,658 | 3.57 | 61,348 | 47.04 | 64,406 | 49.39 | 130,412 | 98.98 | 1,339 | 1.02 | 131,751 | 58.12 | |
Sanjō | 2,402 | 4.94 | 23,132 | 47.54 | 23,120 | 47.52 | 48,654 | 99.14 | 423 | 0.86 | 49,077 | 58.88 | |
Kashiwazaki | 971 | 2.07 | 21,985 | 46.95 | 23,871 | 50.98 | 46,827 | 99.21 | 374 | 0.79 | 47,201 | 65.77 | |
Shibata | 1,963 | 4.23 | 23,901 | 51.49 | 20,552 | 44.28 | 46,416 | 99.08 | 429 | 0.92 | 46,845 | 56.64 | |
Ojiya | 691 | 3.52 | 9,071 | 46.18 | 9,880 | 50.30 | 19,642 | 98.73 | 252 | 1.27 | 19,894 | 65.28 | |
Kamo | 591 | 4.14 | 6,922 | 48.50 | 6,760 | 47.36 | 14,273 | 99.08 | 133 | 0.92 | 14,406 | 60.41 | |
Tōkamachi | 975 | 3.25 | 14,733 | 49.14 | 14,274 | 47.61 | 29,982 | 99.06 | 286 | 0.94 | 30,268 | 65.83 | |
Mitsuke | 973 | 4.76 | 8,850 | 43.34 | 10,598 | 51.90 | 20,421 | 98.81 | 245 | 1.19 | 20,666 | 60.08 | |
Murakami | 1,068 | 3.32 | 17,196 | 53.41 | 13,932 | 43.27 | 32,196 | 99.23 | 251 | 0.77 | 32,447 | 61.76 | |
Tsubame | 1,543 | 3.93 | 18,937 | 48.25 | 18,766 | 47.82 | 39,246 | 99.10 | 358 | 0.90 | 39,604 | 58.74 | |
Itoigawa | 788 | 3.23 | 12,958 | 53.15 | 10,634 | 43.62 | 24,380 | 99.21 | 195 | 0.79 | 24,575 | 66.12 | |
Myōkō | 757 | 4.73 | 7,611 | 47.54 | 7,643 | 47.74 | 16,011 | 99.32 | 110 | 0.68 | 20,666 | 57.78 | |
Gosen | 4,049 | 16.01 | 11,683 | 46.19 | 9,564 | 37.81 | 25,296 | 99.35 | 165 | 0.65 | 25,461 | 58.46 | |
Jōetsu | 3,880 | 4.24 | 41,398 | 45.19 | 46,338 | 50.58 | 91,616 | 99.00 | 922 | 1.00 | 92,538 | 57.24 | |
Agano | 1,068 | 4.81 | 11,971 | 53.95 | 9,149 | 41.23 | 22,188 | 99.18 | 184 | 0.82 | 22,372 | 61.40 | |
Sado | 711 | 2.27 | 21,344 | 68.06 | 9,305 | 29.67 | 31,360 | 99.32 | 215 | 0.68 | 31,575 | 65.46 | |
Uonuma | 916 | 4.47 | 9,905 | 48.38 | 9,652 | 47.15 | 20,473 | 98.53 | 305 | 1.47 | 20,778 | 66.48 | |
Minamiuonuma | 1,205 | 4.03 | 14,122 | 47.27 | 14,550 | 48.70 | 29,877 | 98.18 | 553 | 1.82 | 30,430 | 64.31 | |
Tainai | 570 | 3.73 | 8,210 | 53.74 | 6,496 | 42.52 | 15,276 | 99.19 | 125 | 0.81 | 15,401 | 61.12 | |
Towns and villages | Kitakanbara District | 322 | 5.13 | 3,566 | 56.77 | 2,394 | 38.11 | 6,282 | 99.18 | 52 | 0.82 | 6,334 | 55.59 |
Seirō | 322 | 5.13 | 3,566 | 56.77 | 2,394 | 38.11 | 6,282 | 99.18 | 52 | 0.82 | 6,334 | 55.59 | |
Nishikanbara District | 186 | 4.13 | 2,136 | 47.47 | 2,178 | 48.40 | 4,500 | 99.97 | 47 | 1.03 | 4,547 | 66.39 | |
Yahiko | 186 | 4.13 | 2,136 | 47.47 | 2,178 | 48.40 | 4,500 | 99.97 | 47 | 1.03 | 4,547 | 66.39 | |
Minamikanbara District | 353 | 5.30 | 3,154 | 47.36 | 3,153 | 47.34 | 6,660 | 99.06 | 63 | 0.94 | 6,723 | 65.16 | |
Tagami | 353 | 5.30 | 3,154 | 47.36 | 3,153 | 47.34 | 6,660 | 99.06 | 63 | 0.94 | 6,723 | 65.16 | |
Higashikanbara District | 320 | 4.51 | 3,837 | 54.13 | 2,931 | 41.35 | 7,088 | 98.95 | 75 | 1.05 | 7,163 | 70.93 | |
Aga | 320 | 4.51 | 3,837 | 54.13 | 2,931 | 41.35 | 7,088 | 98.95 | 75 | 1.05 | 7,163 | 70.93 | |
Santō District | 68 | 2.56 | 1,415 | 53.34 | 1,170 | 44.10 | 2,653 | 99.03 | 26 | 0.97 | 2,679 | 68.39 | |
Izumozaki | 68 | 2.56 | 1,415 | 53.34 | 1,170 | 44.10 | 2,653 | 99.03 | 26 | 0.97 | 2,679 | 68.39 | |
Minamiuonuma District | 164 | 4.17 | 1,836 | 46.68 | 1,933 | 49.15 | 3,933 | 98.92 | 43 | 1.08 | 3,976 | 57.56 | |
Yuzawa | 164 | 4.17 | 1,836 | 46.68 | 1,933 | 49.15 | 3,933 | 98.92 | 43 | 1.08 | 3,976 | 57.56 | |
Nakauonuma District | 183 | 3.11 | 3,029 | 51.48 | 2,672 | 45.41 | 5,884 | 99.21 | 47 | 0.79 | 5,931 | 70.39 | |
Tsunan | 183 | 3.11 | 3,029 | 51.48 | 2,672 | 45.41 | 5,884 | 99.21 | 47 | 0.79 | 5,931 | 70.39 | |
Kariwa District | 60 | 2.17 | 1,566 | 56.53 | 1,144 | 41.30 | 2,770 | 99.14 | 24 | 0.86 | 2,794 | 71.79 | |
Kariwa | 60 | 2.17 | 1,566 | 56.53 | 1,144 | 41.30 | 2,770 | 99.14 | 24 | 0.86 | 2,794 | 71.79 | |
Iwafune District | 103 | 2.90 | 2,128 | 59.86 | 1,324 | 37.24 | 3,555 | 99.16 | 30 | 0.84 | 3,585 | 67.97 | |
Sekikawa | 99 | 3.01 | 1,941 | 59.00 | 1,250 | 37.99 | 3,290 | 99.13 | 29 | 0.87 | 3,319 | 66.49 | |
Awashimaura | 4 | 1.51 | 187 | 70.57 | 74 | 27.92 | 265 | 99.62 | 1 | 0.38 | 266 | 94.33 | |
Total | 45,628 | 4.14 | 546,670 | 49.61 | 509,568 | 46.25 | 1,101,866 | 99.08 | 10,246 | 0.92 | 1,112,127 | 58.25 | |
Source: Results |
References
- "Archived copy" 県知事選挙の投・開票速報を訂正します。 (PDF) (in Japanese). 新潟県. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Niigata governor resigns in sex scandal; reactor restarts get push". Asahi Shimbun. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- Kato, Azusa; Takagi, Shinya (25 May 2018). "Nuclear issue again takes center stage in Niigata election". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- "自民、新潟知事選に海保次長を擁立方針 党本部に要請へ" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- "自旧民進が知事選野党共闘へ、新潟" (in Japanese). Kyodo News. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- "LDP-backed candidate wins governor's race in Niigata". Asahi Shimbun. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- "新潟県知事選の候補選び急展開 花角氏、近く意思表明" (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- Osaki, Tomohiro (30 March 2015). "Ex-bureaucrat blasts Abe on news program". Japan Times. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- Koga, Shigeaki (14 May 2018). "古賀茂明「注目の新潟県知事選、紆余曲折の末に決まった野党女性候補の素顔」" (in Japanese). AERA dot. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- "三条市長、知事選出馬を否定" (in Japanese). Niigata Nippo. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- "三条市長、知事選出馬を否定" (in Japanese). Niigata Nippo. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
External links
Official websites
- Hideyo Hanazumi (in Japanese)
- Chikako Ikeda (in Japanese)
- Satoshi Annaka (in Japanese)