2024 Hyogo gubernatorial election
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 55.65%  14.55 pp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Election results by municipalities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2024 Hyōgo gubernatorial election took place on 17 November 2024 to elect the governor of Hyōgo, Japan.[1] Incumbent Motohiko Saitō was re-elected for a second term.[2]
Background
[edit]In March 2024, a former employee of the Hyōgo prefectural government sent a letter to several media outlets and politicians in which he accused Governor Motohiko Saitō of perpetrating acts of workplace bullying and engaging in corrupt practices. Saitō had access to the document and initiated an investigation in April, which concluded with disciplinary action against the employee and a three-month suspension. The rationale provided for these actions was that the letter in question constituted defamation.[3] In June, the prefectural assembly resolved to constitute an independent committee to investigate the matter further, given their perception that the prefectural government had not been impartial.[4] On 8 July, the prefectural police found the employee dead and ruled it as a suicide.[5] After increasing and fruitless calls for Saitō to step down,[6] in September 2024, the Hyōgo Prefectural Assembly unanimously adopted a no-confidence motion to urge Governor Saitō to resign, as he did not resign nor dissolve the assembly after the motion he was automatically removed from office.[7] On 30 September, the prefectural assembly scheduled the gubernatorial election for 17 November.[8] Saitō declared his intention to seek re-election in order to start a fresh mandate without the approval of Ishin,[9][10] which decided to endorse Takayuki Shimizu, a former member of the House of Councillors as a candidate,[11] nor the LDP,[12] which decided to let the party members vote and support the candidate of their choice with some party branches supporting Shimizu and others Saitō.[13][14] During that time, the former mayor of Amagasaki announced her intention to stand for election as governor,[15] and received the endorsement of the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Democratic Party for the People and a branch of the Liberal Democratic Party.[16][17] The Japanese Communist Party resolved to endorse Yoshikiyo Osawa.[18] Meanwhile, Komeito instructed their members to vote freely.[19] Takashi Tachibana, the leader of NHK Party, also announced his intention to take part in the race and claimed that accusations against the former governor were baseless.[20]
Campaign
[edit]The power harassment scandal has been at the centre of public speeches in this election. Former governor Saitō defended his policies during his last mandate and asserted that the revolution he had initiated remained unfinished.[21][22] Kazumi Inamura stated that the prefecture had been shaken by the power harassment scandal and that Hyōgo was in urgent need of a leader who was suited to the role.[23] During her campaign, her role as the former mayor of Amagasaki was emphasised.[22] Shimizu stated that he was disheartened by the fact that Hyōgo was in the news for a tragic reason and he vowed to establish his beloved prefecture as a model of effective governance, beginning with the restoration of the institutions and the enhancement of administrative transparency.[24] Osawa discussed the normalisation of the prefectural administration and highlighted his background as a medical professional.[22]
The election would be held under first-past-the-post voting.
Candidates
[edit]| Name | Age | Party | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motohiko Saitō | 47 | Independent | Former governor of Hyōgo Prefecture Former director general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications |
| Kazumi Inamura | 52 | Independent | Former mayor of Amagasaki |
| Takayuki Shimizu | 50 | Independent | Former member of the House of Councillors Ex-Asahi TV announcer |
| Yoshikiyo Osawa | 61 | Independent | Orthopedist Insurance Doctor in Hyōgo Prefecture |
| Shigeyuki Fukutomo | 58 | Independent | President of a music publishing company |
| Takashi Tachibana | 57 | Independent | NHK Party leader Former member of the House of Councillors |
| Hirotsugu Kijima | 49 | Independent | President of a news analysis company |
Results
[edit]| Name | Party | Votes | % | ±% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motohiko Saitō | Independent | 1,113,911 | 45.2% |  1.7%
|
| Kazumi Inamura | Independent | 976,637 | 39.6% | New |
| Takayuki Shimizu | Independent | 258,388 | 10.5% | New |
| Yoshikiyo Osawa | Independent | 73,862 | 3.0% | New |
| Takashi Tachibana | Independent | 19,180 | 0.8% | New |
| Shigeyuki Fukutomo | Independent | 12,721 | 0.5% | New |
| Hirotsugu Kijima | Independent | 9,114 | 0.4% | New |
Results by municipality
[edit]| Municipality | Motohiko Saito | Kazumi Inamura | Takayuki Shimizu | Yoshikiyo Osawa | Takashi Tachibana | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Total | 1,113,911 | 45.2% | 976,637 | 39.6% | 258,388 | 10.5% | 73,862 | 3.0% | 19,180 | 0.8% | |
| Kobe | Higashinada-ku | 50,048 | 49.1% | 36,903 | 36.2% | 9,964 | 9.8% | 3,557 | 3.5% | 530 | 0.5% |
| Nada-ku | 30,377 | 48.6% | 22,884 | 36.6% | 6,191 | 9.9% | 2,140 | 3.4% | 368 | 0.6% | |
| Chuo-ku | 30,515 | 52.7% | 19,385 | 33.5% | 5,470 | 9.4% | 1,687 | 8.50% | 342 | 0.6% | |
| Hyogo-ku | 21,643 | 49.2% | 14,984 | 34.0% | 4,820 | 11.0% | 1,773 | 4.0% | 323 | 0.7% | |
| Kita-ku | 43,301 | 45,9% | 36,518 | 38.7% | 10,187 | 10.8% | 3,193 | 3.4% | 571 | 0.6% | |
| Nagata-ku | 17,332 | 47.7% | 12,701 | 35.0% | 3,948 | 10.9% | 1,781 | 4.9% | 246 | 0.7% | |
| Suma-ku | 35,124 | 46.8% | 28,080 | 37.4% | 7,605 | 10.1% | 3,058 | 4.1% | 568 | 0.8% | |
| Tarumi-ku | 45,105 | 46.8% | 36,558 | 37.9% | 9,867 | 10.2% | 3,453 | 3.6% | 637 | 0.7% | |
| Nishi-ku | 48,153 | 44.9% | 42,898 | 40.0% | 11,480 | 10,7% | 3,189 | 3.0% | 684 | 0.6% | |
| Amagasaki | 78,462 | 40.3% | 88,754 | 45.6% | 16,739 | 8.6% | 7,851 | 4.0% | 1,294 | 0.7% | |
| Nishinomiya | 105,605 | 46.2% | 87,678 | 38.4% | 25,052 | 11.0% | 6,843 | 3.0% | 1,516 | 0.7% | |
| Ashiya | 23,975 | 48.5% | 18,303 | 37.1% | 4,985 | 10.1% | 1,373 | 2.8% | 398 | 0.8% | |
| Itami | 37,508 | 43.6% | 34,760 | 40.4% | 9,910 | 11.5% | 2,590 | 3.0% | 615 | 0.7% | |
| Takarazuka | 47,902 | 44.3% | 42,807 | 39.6% | 12,373 | 11.4% | 3,507 | 3.2% | 701 | 0.6% | |
| Kawanishi | 29,688 | 41.6% | 29,884 | 41,8% | 8,348 | 11.7% | 2,264 | 3.2% | 494 | 0.7% | |
| Sanda | 21,840 | 42.3% | 22,167 | 42.9% | 5,375 | 10.4% | 1,408 | 2.7% | 316 | 0.6% | |
| Akashi | 59,271 | 43.5% | 55,377 | 40.6% | 15,333 | 11.2% | 3,609 | 2.6% | 1,651 | 1.2% | |
| Kakogawa | 50,803 | 45.4% | 44,770 | 40.0% | 11,288 | 10.1% | 3,078 | 2.8% | 897 | 0.8% | |
| Takasago | 16,692 | 44.5% | 15,012 | 40.1% | 4,194 | 11.2% | 923 | 2.5% | 294 | 0.8% | |
| Nishiwaki | 8,489 | 46.5% | 6,965 | 38.2% | 2,080 | 11.4% | 463 | 2.5% | 126 | 0.7% | |
| Miki | 14,481 | 43.7% | 13,511 | 40.8% | 3,778 | 11.4% | 828 | 2.5% | 203 | 0.6% | |
| Ono | 9,559 | 44.3% | 8,633 | 40.1% | 2,476 | 11.5% | 479 | 2.2% | 176 | 0.8% | |
| Kasai | 8,790 | 44.1% | 8,238 | 41.4% | 2,100 | 10,5% | 386 | 1.9% | 174 | 0.9% | |
| Kato | 8,095 | 45.6% | 7,115 | 40.1% | 1,912 | 10.8% | 328 | 1.8% | 126 | 0.7% | |
| Himeji | 103,588 | 47.9% | 81,432 | 37.7% | 21,560 | 10.0% | 5,030 | 2.3% | 2,625 | 1.2% | |
| Aioi | 5,597 | 43.1% | 5.539 | 42.6% | 1,334 | 10.3% | 299 | 2.3% | 93 | 0.7% | |
| Tatsuno | 15,966 | 45.3% | 14,234 | 40.4% | 3,553 | 10.1% | 710 | 2.0% | 360 | 1.0% | |
| Ako | 8,892 | 42.4% | 8,868 | 42.3% | 2,290 | 10.9% | 414 | 2.0% | 206 | 1.0% | |
| Shiso | 7,358 | 40.9% | 8,118 | 45.1% | 1,788 | 9.9% | 399 | 2.2% | 176 | 1.0% | |
| Toyooka | 16,523 | 43.4% | 16,213 | 42.6% | 3,821 | 10.0% | 995 | 2.6% | 262 | 0.7% | |
| Yabu | 4,986 | 42.5% | 5,231 | 44.5% | 1,061 | 9.0% | 281 | 2.4% | 75 | 0.6% | |
| Asago | 6,544 | 43.2% | 6,392 | 42.2% | 1,505 | 9.9% | 408 | 2.7% | 116 | 0.8% | |
| Tambasasayama | 7,651 | 39.3% | 8,692 | 44.7% | 2,307 | 11.9% | 473 | 2.4% | 188 | 1.0% | |
| Tamba | 14,856 | 45.0% | 13,026 | 39.5% | 3,291 | 10.0% | 897 | 2.7% | 403 | 1.2% | |
| Sumoto | 8,366 | 45.2% | 7,447 | 40.3% | 1,838 | 9.9% | 517 | 2.8% | 159 | 0.9% | |
| Minamiawaji | 9,564 | 45.3% | 8,329 | 39,5% | 2,391 | 11.3% | 396 | 1.9% | 184 | 0.9% | |
| Awaji | 8,689 | 44.3% | 7,787 | 39.7% | 2,368 | 12.1% | 452 | 2.3% | 168 | 0.9% | |
| Kawabe | Inagawa | 5,677 | 39.1% | 6,348 | 43.7% | 1,924 | 13.3% | 337 | 2.3% | 88 | 0.6% |
| Kako | Inami | 6,006 | 42,9% | 5,786 | 41.4% | 1,642 | 11.7% | 301 | 2.2% | 122 | 0.9% |
| Harima | 6,359 | 42,9% | 5,887 | 39.8% | 1,943 | 13.1% | 384 | 2.6% | 111 | 0.7% | |
| Taka | Taka | 5,034 | 49.9% | 3,639 | 36.0% | 1,111 | 11.0% | 170 | 1.7% | 43 | 0.4% |
| Kanzaki | Ichikawa | 2,556 | 41.7% | 2,583 | 42.1% | 698 | 11.4% | 160 | 2.6% | 47 | 0.8% |
| Fukusaki | 4,271 | 48.0% | 3,430 | 38.5% | 871 | 9.8% | 179 | 2.0% | 56 | 0.6% | |
| Kamikawa | 2,744 | 43.0% | 2,817 | 44.2% | 606 | 9.5% | 100 | 1.6% | 46 | 0.7% | |
| Ibo | Taishi | 6,628 | 43.7% | 6,037 | 39,8% | 1,759 | 11.6% | 386 | 2.5% | 140 | 0.9% |
| Sayo | Sayo | 3,205 | 37,4% | 3,987 | 46.5% | 933 | 10.9% | 223 | 2.6% | 125 | 1.5% |
| Ako | Kamigori | 2,982 | 40.2% | 3,250 | 43.9% | 856 | 11.6% | 183 | 2.5% | 69 | 0.6% |
| Mikata | Kami | 3,988 | 43.4% | 3,532 | 40.8% | 780 | 9.0% | 218 | 2.5% | 74 | 0.9% |
| Shin'onsen | 3,123 | 42.9% | 3,158 | 43.4% | 683 | 9.4% | 189 | 2.6% | 68 | 0.9% | |
References
[edit]- ^ 日本放送協会 (27 September 2024). "兵庫 斎藤知事 失職して出直し選挙に臨む意向 選挙は11月か | NHK". NHKニュース. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ 日本テレビ. "【速報】斎藤元彦前知事が111万票獲得し『再選』果たす 開票結果が確定 2位稲村氏に13万票大差 兵庫県知事選｜日テレNEWS NNN". 日テレNEWS NNN (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "EDITORIAL: Hyogo panel must find truth in whistleblower scandal". The Asahi Shimbun. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Hyogo Governor's Scandal: Why Was Whistleblower Given No Protection?". Yomiuri. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "パワハラ疑惑告発した元兵庫県民局長が姫路市内で死亡、自殺か 家族から行方不明届". The Sankei Shimbun. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Tang, Francis; Semans, Himari (9 September 2024). "Nippon Ishin calls on Hyogo governor to resign over bullying claims". Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Ex-gov., 6 others run in Hyogo election after power abuse scandal". Mainichi Japan. Kyodo. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫県の出直し知事選は１０月３１日告示、１１月１７日投開票…自民と維新は独自候補擁立を検討". 30 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Tang, Francis (31 October 2024). "Campaigning kicks off for Hyogo gubernatorial election". The japan times. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "維新・吉村氏 兵庫県知事選「独自候補擁立する」 斎藤知事に「改善されるなら一緒にやりたかった」". FNNプライムオンライン. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "維新の兵庫県組織、知事選で清水氏支援の方針決定 推薦、党議拘束は見送り". 神戸新聞. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "自民・兵庫県議団 斎藤知事の推薦は「ありえない」 出直し選". 毎日新聞. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫県知事選、清水氏支援を表明 自民神戸市議団「推薦できる最良の候補」". 神戸新聞. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫県知事選挙、自民党県連が自主投票を正式決定…斎藤元彦前知事の支援を容認". Yomiuri. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "【独自】兵庫県知事選に元尼崎市長稲村氏出馬へ". FNN. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫知事選 自主投票決めた自民県議団有志が出馬予定の稲村氏支援へ". Asahi Shimbun. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫知事選、自民は「自主投票」に 県議団が独自候補擁立の断念決定". 産経新聞. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "次期兵庫県知事選に共産推薦医師 出馬初表明｢職員守る｣". 日本経済新聞. 共同. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "兵庫知事選、連合兵庫が稲村氏を支持 前会長「働く仲間、県民のために信頼できる候補」". 神戸新聞. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "「斎藤氏をサポートする」N国・立花党首が兵庫県知事選に立候補表明". 朝日新聞. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "過去最多７人が届け出＝県政立て直し争点、兵庫知事選". nippon.com (in Japanese). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "兵庫知事選、激しい選挙戦続く 自民の支持先3候補に…構図は？". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Soeda, Itsuki (31 October 2024). "Record 7 file in Hyōgo governor race, including ousted Saito". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ 産経新聞 (31 October 2024). "「県の混乱、まずはしっかり立て直す」前参院議員の清水氏、兵庫県知事選で第一声". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2024.