Quick Summary
- 1The upcoming year will be marked by extensive electoral campaigns across Russia.
- 2Beyond the election of the new ninth convocation of the State Duma, legislative assemblies in 39 regions and city councils in 10 administrative centers will see updates.
- 3However, only seven gubernatorial races are currently planned, specifically in Mordovia, Tuva, Chechnya, Belgorod, Penza, Ulyanovsk, and Tver regions.
- 4According to experts, the Kremlin traditionally clears the Duma elections of parallel campaigns that could create local tension points, though unexpected rotations in the spring remain a possibility.
Quick Summary
The year 2026 is set to be a highly active period for electoral campaigns across the Russian Federation. The political calendar is dominated by the election of the new, ninth convocation of the State Duma, which serves as the federal legislative body.
In addition to the federal parliamentary elections, the political landscape will see significant changes at the regional level. Legislative assemblies in 39 subjects of the federation are scheduled for renewal. Simultaneously, city councils in 10 administrative centers will undergo elections.
Gubernatorial elections, however, are limited in scope for the year. Currently, only seven governorships are slated for races. These specific regions include:
- Mordovia
- Tuva
- Chechnya
- Belgorod Region
- Penza Region
- Ulyanovsk Region
- Tver Region
Political analysts suggest that the Kremlin maintains a strategy of isolating Duma elections from parallel regional campaigns. This approach aims to prevent the creation of local tension points during the federal vote. Despite this planning, the possibility of unscheduled rotations occurring in the spring has not been ruled out.
Federal and Regional Legislative Renewal
The primary focus of the 2026 electoral cycle is the election of the ninth convocation of the State Duma. This federal election serves as the centerpiece of the political year, requiring significant administrative and logistical coordination across the country.
Beyond the federal level, the scope of legislative renewal is extensive. Elections are scheduled to update the composition of legislative assemblies in 39 subjects of the Russian Federation. This widespread renewal indicates a significant turnover in regional governance structures.
Furthermore, local municipal governance will also be refreshed. In 10 administrative centers, city councils (horsovets) will be elected. This dual layer of elections—regional and municipal—ensures that the political activity in 2026 will be felt at multiple levels of government.
Limited Gubernatorial Races 🗳️
Despite the high volume of legislative elections, gubernatorial campaigns remain surprisingly limited for the year. Only seven governorships are currently planned to hold elections. This represents a small fraction of the total regional leadership positions across the country.
The specific regions scheduled for gubernatorial elections are geographically diverse, spanning different federal districts. The list includes:
- Mordovia
- Tuva
- Chechnya
- Belgorod Region
- Penza Region
- Ulyanovsk Region
- Tver Region
The scarcity of gubernatorial races compared to the high number of legislative elections highlights a specific focus on legislative stability during this electoral cycle.
Strategic Electoral Management
Experts analyzing the electoral calendar point to a deliberate strategy by the Kremlin. The traditional approach involves clearing the electoral field during Duma elections to ensure a focused political environment.
The primary objective is to avoid parallel campaigns that could potentially generate points of tension in local regions. By limiting the number of concurrent high-stakes elections, the central authority aims to maintain stability and order during the federal parliamentary vote.
However, the political environment remains fluid. Experts note that this traditional disengagement does not exclude the possibility of unplanned rotations taking place in the spring. These potential changes could alter the political landscape ahead of the main election cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are currently seven gubernatorial races planned for 2026 in Mordovia, Tuva, Chechnya, Belgorod, Penza, Ulyanovsk, and Tver regions.
According to experts, the Kremlin traditionally clears the Duma elections of parallel regional campaigns to prevent the creation of local tension points.
