Elections to regional councils in the Czech Republic in 13 regions (except Prague) were held on 2–3 October 2020.
Background
ANO 2011 won the previous election. Czech Social Democratic Party saw heavy losses and came second. 2017 Czech legislative election resulted in another victory of ANO 2011 while Social Democrats were reduced to 6th place. Traditional main right wing party Civic Democratic Party finished second followed by Czech Pirate Party and Freedom and Direct Democracy. Civic Democrats and Pirates has since then competed for the position of the main opposition party.
TOP 09 and Mayors and Independents negotiated about possible electoral alliance, but in December 2019, negotiations failed and parties decided to cooperate only in some regions. In February 2020 the Civic Democratic Party and TOP 09 in Plzeň region agreed to cooperate in Plzeň region allowing TOP 09 candidates to run on the Civic Democratic Party list. Similar agreements were made in Pardubice Region and Moravian-Silesian Region in which ODS allowed TOP 09 to run on its list. ODS also formed an electoral alliance with KDU-ČSL in Karlovy Vary Region and with STAN and Eastern Bohemians in Hradec Králové Region.
Czech Pirate Party formed an electoral alliance with Mayors an Independents for Olomouc region in March 2020. The Pirate Party decided to not form any other regional electoral alliance.
Tricolour Citizens' Movement formed coalitions with Svobodní and Freeholder Party of the Czech Republic in most regions. It is the first election for the Party that formed in 2019.
Election lists were to be submitted no later than on 28 July 2020. 207 lists were submitted with largest portion in Moravian-Silesian Region and South Bohemian Region.
COVID-19 pandemic
Election would be held during COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020 it was reported that people in quarantine would be unable to vote. Opposition parties largely criticised that people would be limited on their right to vote. This led government to prepare laws to enable quarantined people to vote. It introduced 4 possibilities - drive-through voting, voting through a representative, or a special electoral commission that would come to affected people and formation of special electoral districts. Minister of Interior and leader of ČSSD stated that Parliament should accept all possibilities. TOP 09, STAN and Pirates only decided to support Drive-through voting and special electoral districts. ODS decided to support Drive-through voting, special electoral commissions but opposed the possibility of voting through a representative.
Campaign
ANO 2011
The party is running alone in all regions. The party decided to put many MPs on its lists. ANO is viewed as the front-runner. It has 5 Governors and the highest number of seats in regional councils. According to a poll conducted for ANO 2011, the party would win in most regions with the Central Bohemian and Liberec regions as the only regions in which ANO wouldn't win.
The party launched its Campaign on 3 September 2020 with the slogans "Shown applies" and "Actions instead of Words." Party hopes that the voters will appreciate its previous work.
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Martin Kupka became electoral manager of ODS for regional elections. He is also running for the position of the Governor of the Central Bohemian District. Other Governor Candidates include Martin Červíček former Police President, Martin Kuba and Jiří Nantl. ODS is running with other smaller parties in some regions. Kupka admitted that the Campaign of ODS is influenced by the 2020 coronavirus outbreak in the Czech Republic as restrictions delayed launch of the Campaign and cause it to be focused more on Social media.
ODS launched its campaign on 24 June 2020 with the slogan "Let's put Czechia back on its feet."
Czech Pirate Party (Piráti) The Czech Pirate Party launched their campaign on 22 June 2020. It runs under the slogan "Chance to change the Future." The party is running without cooperation with other Parties. Only in Olomouc region are the Pirates running in a coalition with Mayors and Independents.