The 2023 Amur Oblast gubernatorial election took place on 8–10 September 2023, on common election day. Incumbent Governor Vasily Orlov was re-elected to a second term in office.
Background
In May 2018 first-term then-Governor Alexander Kozlov jointed Second Medvedev cabinet as Minister for Development of the Russian Far East. Sibur executive and former regional minister for economic development Vasily Orlov was appointed acting Governor of Amur Oblast on 30 May 2018. Orlov won 2018 election for a full term with 55.60%, narrowly avoiding a runoff with CPRF candidate Tatyana Rakutina.
Governor Orlov mostly stayed mum on his reelection plans throughout his term, however, during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on 16 May 2023 the governor asked for support for his reelection, which was granted.
Candidates
In Amur 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 Amur 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 7% 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
Boris Beloborodov (CPRF), businessman, former Amur Oblast Commissioner for Entrepreneurs' Rights (2020–2022) Vasily Orlov (United Russia), incumbent Governor of Amur Oblast (2018–present) Sergey Rafalsky (Communists of Russia), Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2021–present), businessman Roman Sanzharevsky (New People), IT businessman Yevgeny Zavgorordny (SR–ZP), urologist
Eliminated at United Russia convention
Nadezhda Bagrova, Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2016–present) Andrey Rud, Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2016–present)
Declined
Ivan Abramov (LDPR), Senator from Amur Oblast (2018–present), 2012 and 2015 gubernatorial candidate Roman Kobyzov (CPRF), Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2008–present), 2012 and 2015 gubernatorial candidate Kirill Zimin (SR–ZP), Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2016–present)
Candidates for Federation Council
Boris Beloborodov (CPRF): Roman Kobyzov, Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2008–present), 2012 and 2015 gubernatorial candidate Tatyana Rakutina, former Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2005–2011), 2018 gubernatorial candidate Vladimir Sedov, former Chairman of the Civic Chamber of Amur Oblast (2013–2020), retired FSB Major General
Vasily Orlov (United Russia): Ivan Abramov (LDPR), incumbent Senator from Amur Oblast (2018–present) Nadezhda Bagrova, Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2016–present) Pyotr Park, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Amur Oblast (2018–present)
Sergey Rafalsky (Communists of Russia): Gennady Gamza, aide to Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast member Sergey Rafalsky, former Member of State Duma (1995–2003) Sergey Loparev, businessman Denis Minin, lawyer
Roman Sanzharevsky (New People): Vladislav Malinovsky, teacher Pavel Ovsyannikov, businessman Aleksandr Yan, businessman
Yevgeny Zavgorodny (SR–ZP): Igor Maryin, businessman Roman Moiseyev, businessman Kirill Zimin, Member of Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast (2016–present)