Key Facts
• Fukushima mayoral election scheduled for November 9 (announcement) and November 16 (voting).
• Yuki Baba, 32, a Democratic Party lawmaker, plans to run as an independent.
• Baba to resign from the Democratic Party and his parliamentary seat before candidacy.
• Incumbent mayor Hiroshi Kohata, 64, seeks a third term.
• Sho Takahashi, 37, a company executive, has also declared candidacy.
• Communist-affiliated groups are exploring potential candidates.
• Baba met with Seiji Sawada, head of Rengo Fukushima, to discuss his decision.
• Baba aims to “revitalize Fukushima,” citing local economic challenges.
• Kohata previously won re-election in 2021 with broad political and organizational support.
• Kohata’s redevelopment policies have faced opposition from some conservative and business groups.
• Baba’s candidacy complicates the political dynamics of the election.
• Baba, a native of Koriyama, graduated from Keio University and worked in banking before entering politics.
• Baba was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2021 and re-elected in 2024.
Summary
The upcoming Fukushima mayoral election, set for November 2025, will see a contest between incumbent Hiroshi Kohata and new candidate Yuki Baba. Baba, a 32-year-old Democratic Party lawmaker, plans to resign from his party and parliamentary seat to run as an independent, aiming to address local economic challenges. Kohata, 64, seeks a third term, but his redevelopment policies have drawn criticism from some conservative and business groups. Sho Takahashi, a 37-year-old company executive, has also declared his candidacy, while Communist-affiliated groups are considering fielding a candidate. Baba’s entry into the race adds complexity to the political landscape, with party and organizational support likely to play a decisive role in the election outcome.
