The election, like other local elections in 2024, follow the first-past-the-post system where the candidate with the most votes wins the election, even if they do not win a majority.[1] It is possible for a candidate to run uncontested, in which case the candidate is still required to win a majority of votes "against" an "empty box" option. Should the candidate fail to do so, the election will be repeated on a later date.[2]
Candidates
According to electoral regulations, in order to qualify for the election, candidates were required to secure support from 24 seats in the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). As none of the parties won 24 or more seats in the 2024 election, coalitions of multiple parties are required to nominate a candidate.[3][4] Candidates may alternatively demonstrate support in form of photocopies of identity cards, which in West Java's case corresponds to 2.32 million copies. No independent candidates registered with the General Elections Commission for the gubernatorial election.[5]
However, on 20 August 2024 the Constitutional Court of Indonesia issued ruling No. 60/PUU-XXII/2024 and MK decision No. 70/PUU-XXII/2024 which granted part of the lawsuit filed by the Labor Party and the Gelora Party against the local election law.[6] This decision was stated in PKPU Number 8 of 2024.[7] This ruling lowers the requirement to 6,5% for political parties to announce their own candidate pairings.[8] Based on this new ruling, Gerindra Party, Golkar, PDI-P, National Awakening Party, Prosperous Justice Party and the Democratic Party can name their own pairs of candidates without the need to form coalitions.
Declared
These are candidates who have been allegedly delegated by political parties endorsing for gubernatorial election:
However with the new ruling issued by the Constitutional Court of Indonesia, PKB decided to leave the coalition agreement with PDI-P and field their own candidates with Acep running as governor. In reaction to this, on the night of the same day PDI-P announced that they will nominate Anies Baswedan as Governor of West Java with Ono running as Vice Governor.[13] However, Anies through his spokesperson said he declined to run.[14]
At the last registration time, PDI-P nominated Jeje Wiradinata and Ronal Surapradja as the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates from PDI-P. Jeje and Ronal did not come directly to the KPU but only attended online via Zoom. Registration was represented by Ono Surono as the Chairperson of the PDI-P West Java DPD, and a Member of the West Java Regional House of Representatives from PDI-P, Abdy Yuhana.[15] During the candidate registration, Ono Surono blamed his failure to nominate Anies because of alleged intervention from outside forces.[16][17]
Since yesterday we have offered Mr. Anies until it was narrowed down this afternoon. Why did it fail? We are facing a very big challenge, sides that do not agree that Mr. Anies is supported by PDI-P. (Who sir?) Yes, Mulyono and the gang. Yes, just write Mulyono. We know that Mr. Anies is a native from Kuningan, West Java and has a good track record building Jakarta. So, I'm sure (he) can build West Java. But that larger force made Mr. Anies not to be nominated by PDI-P.
— Ono Surono
Anies Baswedan however explained his decision to not run saying that there is no popular aspiration present in the people of West Java unlike in Jakarta and thanked PDI-P for the offer.[18] PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto also echoed Ono's statement, saying there is no dissent within the party ranks. He also revealed that Jeje Wiradinata is initially to be paired with Ono Surono while the current pair is proposed as a backup. Hasto however tasked Ono Surono to take part in the leadership of the West Java Regional House of Representatives as well as being the campaign manager for Jeje-Ronal.[19]
Initially, many media speculation has said that Ridwan Kamil will run for reelection and he has a high approval rating even reaching 50% in the polls.[25] However, the Advanced Indonesia Coalition spearheaded by Gerindra Party recommended Ridwan Kamil to run for Governor of Jakarta.[26] This recommendation gave Golkar, the party in which Ridwan Kamil is from, a dilemma on Ridwan's candidacy in either province.[27]
Golkar used the polls to justify Ridwan Kamil's candidacy in either Jakarta or West Java. Previously, Golkar gave him a mandate to run in either province.[28] In Jakarta however, Golkar named Jusuf Hamka as Governor of Jakarta.[29] Jusuf's candidacy opened up a potential candidacy by Kaesang Pangarep, younger son of President Joko Widodo and Chairman of Indonesian Solidarity Party, as Jusuf's running mate in order to create the pairing of "Ka'bah", a portmanteau between Kaesang's name and Jusuf's popular nickname, Babah Alun.[30] On 8 August 2024, Ridwan was given the mandate to run in Jakarta, while Jusuf runs in West Java.[31] Ridwan's candidacy in Jakarta ended all speculation on his reelection bid in West Java. Later, Jusuf abruptly resigned from Golkar after Airlangga Hartarto announced that he will step down as Chairman of Golkar, ending his candidacy.[32]
On the other side, Gerindra Party named Dedi Mulyadi, an ex-Golkar politician now a member of Gerindra, to be named as candidate for Governor.[33] In the polls, Dedi Mulyadi ranks second behind Ridwan Kamil.[34] Gerindra justified the polls to push Ridwan's candidacy in Jakarta and Dedi's candidacy in West Java. Finally, after Ridwan Kamil was nominated by Advanced Indonesia Coalition Plus became a candidate for governor of Jakarta. Dedi Mulyadi was nominated by the Advanced Indonesia Coalition Plus to be a candidate for governor of West Java,[35] awaiting Golkar to name a running mate for Dedi.
On August 25, 2024, Dedi Mulyadi and Golkar announced the candidate for deputy governor to accompany Dedi Mulyadi. Golkar appointed the former Deputy Regent of Sumedang who is also the son of Persib Bandung Manager Umuh Muchtar, namely Erwan Setiawan, as a candidate for Vice Governor with Dedi Mulyadi.[36]
Potential
The following are individuals who have either been publicly mentioned as a potential candidate, or considered as such by press:
.svg)
