2019 Okinawa 3rd district by-election

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2019 Okinawa 3rd district by-election
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  2017 21 April 2019 Next  

Okinawa 3rd district
Turnout43.99%
 
Ind.
Aiko Shimajiri (3x4 crop).jpg
CandidateTomohiro Yara Aiko Shimajiri
Party Independent Liberal Democratic
Popular vote77,15659,428
Percentage56.49%43.51%

Representative before election

Denny Tamaki
Liberal

Elected Representative

Tomohiro Yara [note 1]
Independent

A by-election for the Okinawa 3rd district in the Japanese House of Representatives was held on 21 April 2019. [1]

Contents

Background

The seat became vacant following the candidacy and election of its representative, Denny Tamaki to the governorship of Okinawa Prefecture. Tamaki was one of the two representatives from the Liberal Party in the House. He had served the district almost continuously since 2009 and defended the seat by a 17.56% margin in the 2017 election. The by-election was held on the same day with the second round of the unified local elections and another House by-election in the Osaka 12th district. The Okinawa-wide referendum in February influenced the by-election campaign.

The candidate supported by Tamaki and the All-Okinawa coalition, Tomohiro Yara won the by-election against LDP candidate and former minister Aiko Shimajiri. [2]

Candidates

  1. Aiko Shimajiri (LDP), former member of the House of Councillors and cabinet minister. [3]
  2. Tomohiro Yara (LP), freelance journalist (endorsed by the All-Okinawa coalition). [3]

Results

House of Representatives: 2019 Okinawa 3rd district by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Tomohiro Yara 77,15656.5
Liberal Democratic Aiko Shimajiri 59,42843.5
Total votes136,584
Turnout 43.99-10.06
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Footnotes

  1. Yara joined the Liberal caucus soon after he was elected.

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References

  1. "EDITORIAL: Henoko base row now much more than just a local political issue". Asahi Shimbun. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  2. "LDP loses both by-elections in Okinawa, Osaka prefectures". Asahi Shimbun. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 "屋良・島尻氏一騎打ちへ 衆院沖縄3区補選 「オール沖縄」対自民" (in Japanese). Okinawa Times. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.