The 2024 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election was held on 23 September 2024 in accordance with the end of the presidential term which had commenced in 2021.
The election was contested by four candidates: incumbent party president Kenta Izumi, party founder Yukio Edano, former Prime MinisterYoshihiko Noda, and first-term legislator Harumi Yoshida. Izumi and Yoshida were eliminated in the first round. Noda then defeated Edano in the runoff ballot.[1][2][3]
Background
Kenta Izumi was elected president of the party in November 2021, following the resignation of Yukio Edano due to the party's poor performance in the 2021 lower house election. In the intervening three years, the party continued to face electoral setbacks, losing six seats in the 2022 upper house election and failing to win any of the five by-elections held in 2022 and 2023. Their fortunes improved after the slush fund scandal broke, leading to success in three by-elections in April 2024, but hopes for a change of government again evaporated after a heavy defeat in the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election.[4] By the time his term expired, Izumi faced criticism from various sectors within the party. He had sought to push the party in a more moderate direction, softening his position on nuclear power and security policy and advocating cooperation with the right-leaning Democratic Party For the People (DPFP), which angered liberal factions.[5] At the same time, he maintained the party's electoral alliance with the Japanese Communist Party and kept his distance from Nippon Ishin no Kai, now the second-largest opposition party, which angered conservatives and was viewed as a strategic mistake by others.[6][7]
On 7 August, the CDP executive announced that nominations would be taken on 7 September and the election held on 23 September.[8]
In addition, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was widely expected to be replaced in the 2024 presidential election scheduled for the same time as the CDP contest. It was anticipated that the new Prime Minister would quickly call a snap lower house election, meaning that the new president would likely become the party's candidate for Prime Minister immediately.[6]
Electoral system
Candidates were required to gather sponsorships from 20 members of the CDP Diet caucus in order to stand; a maximum of 25 sponsors could be submitted.[9]
The election was conducted via a points system:
Each of the party's members of the National Diet had a vote worth two points. (272 points total)
Registered party members or supporters could vote via mail or online. Points for this tier were awarded to candidates in proportion to votes won. (185 points total)
Each of the party's members of local councils or prefectural assemblies could vote via mail or online. Points for this tier were awarded to candidates in proportion to votes won. (185 points total)
Each of the party's approved candidates for future Diet elections had a vote worth one point. (98 points total)
In order to win, a candidate must secure more than 50% of points. If no candidate won more than 50%, a runoff was to be held the same day.
In the event of a runoff:
Each of the party's members of the National Diet had a vote worth two points. (272 points total)
Each of the party's approved candidates for future Diet elections had a vote worth one point. (98 points total)
A representative from each of the party's prefectural branches had a vote worth one point. (47 points total)
Member of the House of Representatives (2003–) Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (2009–10) President of the Constitutional Democratic Party (2021–)
Chinami Nishimura, member of the House of Representatives (2003–12; 2014–) and former secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party (2021–22)
Junya Ogawa, member of the House of Representatives (2005–) – (endorsed Noda)
Kazuhiko Shigetoku, member of the House of Representatives (2012–) – (endorsed Noda)
Contest
In mid-July, Izumi confirmed his intention to seek another term as president.[7] With dissatisfaction widespread, his re-election was not assured, and speculation surrounded a likely challenge. The most widespread name was former president Yukio Edano. Many party members, dissatisfied with Izumi's performance and believing Edano discredited by his past failures, sought a younger or female candidate,[4] but expressed frustration at the lack of talent within the party. Other names included Yoshihiko Noda, Kazuhiko Shigetoku, Sumio Mabuchi, and Kenji Eda. Junya Ogawa and Kiyomi Tsujimoto were also floated as candidates but lacked support.[6][14][15]
Edano became the first candidate to announce his candidacy on 9 August, well in advance of nominations.[16] He stated his platform was "human-centered economics," investing in social security, education, regional development and raising wages.[17][18] Hoping to win support from Rengo, he also softened his position on nuclear power and called for a review of the party's electoral alliance strategy.[19]
Despite strong backing from his own faction to run, on 19 August Shigetoku unexpectedly called on Noda to run instead.[20] At a meeting of the Naoto Kan faction on 22 August, Kan proposed supporting Chinami Nishimura, fourth-place finisher from the 2021 race. Nishimura was cautious and suggested it would be difficult for her, as deputy president, to run against the incumbent Izumi. Additionally, some members of the faction had already thrown their support behind Edano.[21]
A candidate information session was held on 26 August, two weeks before nominations were to be taken. Edano, Noda, Izumi, Eda, Mabuchi, and Nishimura were present, as was first-term legislator Harumi Yoshida.[22] Despite her inexperience, Yoshida was well known for defeating LDP secretary-general Nobuteru Ishihara in her district. She said she wanted to bring a perspective "untainted by Nagatachō" and that of "a woman closely connected to everyday life".[23][24]
Noda announced on 29 August that he intended stand in the election.[25] He advocated a "centrist conservative line" and closer ties to the DPFP and Nippon Ishin no Kai.[26] He received strong support from Ichirō Ozawa, and they appeared together at a campaign rally on 12 September.[27][28] Ozawa had helped Izumi win the presidency in 2021, but by July of 2024 was publicly calling for his resignation.[7] The Noda–Ozawa alliance was a major turnaround; the two had been longtime enemies since Ozawa instigated a major party split during Noda's tenure as Prime Minister. In the contest, they had common positions on cooperation with Nippon Ishin and opposing Izumi's leadership.[29][30] Following the announcement, Junya Ogawa stated he had been considering running but was standing aside in favour of "his mentor" Noda.[31]
With nominations looming, Edano and Noda had secured enough sponsors to run, while Izumi and other candidates were still struggling. At a faction meeting on 4 September, Nishimura declared that she would not stand.[32][33] Mabuchi also withdrew the following day, citing the division of conservative support between himself, Izumi, and Eda.[34][35] The following day, Izumi announced he had reached the threshold and formally launched his bid. He said: "Although I'm the current president, I want to enter the debate as a challenger." He advocated raising taxes on the wealthy and implementing free education.[36][37] Shortly afterwards, Eda agreed to drop out and throw his support behind Yoshida. This put her above the threshold for nominations and she was able to stand as the fourth candidate in the race.[38][39][40][41]
A key issue in the contest was the electoral alliance with the Communist Party. Izumi had retained the arrangement during his tenure while attempting to steer a middle course and expand cooperation with the DPFP. While much of the liberal wing favoured the alliance, it was opposed by large sections of the party as well as the trade union federation Rengo, one of the party's key support groups. Noda and Ozawa called for the party to shift to cooperation with the DPFP and Nippon Ishin instead. Noda stated: "If we can progress from that relationship of dialogue to cooperation, and if we can push the LDP and Komeito out of their majority, there will be many combinations (types of cooperation) that can be made." Edano, a supporter of the JCP alliance, suggested forming alliances on an individual basis in each district, taking into consideration the local political situation.[42][43]
Surveys conducted during the campaign found Noda ahead among Diet members and with a wide lead in public opinion, while Edano was believed to have an advantage among local assembly members. Izumi and Yoshida both trailed. A survey of prefectural branches by the Sankei Shimbun found roughly equal support for Izumi (nine branches) and Noda and Edano (eight each), while three supported Yoshida and nineteen did not respond.[44] Two days before the vote, Kyodo News assessed the situation as such: Noda was in the lead with support from his and Ozawa's factions, as well as Takeshi Shina and Yuichi Goto; the majority of Edano's support came from the Sanctuary faction; Yoshida had the backing of Eda's camp but struggled to expand; and Izumi was supported by Mabuchi's faction. A runoff between Noda and Edano was the most likely outcome.[45][46][47]
Timeline
17 July – Kenta Izumi announces he will seek re-election.
7 August – Party officials announce the election will be held on 23 September
The election was held on 23 September. The votes of party members and supporters, as well as local assembly officials, were counted and reported. Diet members and approved candidates then cast their votes. In the first round, Noda placed first with 267 points, followed by Edano on 206, Izumi on 143, and Yoshida on 122. Noda clearly won the party member vote with 44% compared to Edano's 28%, while Edano was preferred by local assembly members 38% to 31%. 30% of approved Diet candidates voted for Noda followed by 26% for Izumi. 45 Diet members backed Noda, 33 Edano, 29 Izumi, and 28 Yoshida.
With no candidate reaching a majority, a runoff was then held. In the runoff, Noda won the votes of Diet members 72 to 63, candidates 60 to 35, and the prefectural branches 28 to 19, delivering him 232 points to Edano's 180.[48]
↑"泉健太氏の推薦人名簿 立憲民主党代表選"[Kenta Izumi's list of supporters: Constitutional Democratic Party leadership election]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
↑"枝野幸男氏の推薦人名簿 立憲民主党代表選"[Yukio Edano's list of supporters: Constitutional Democratic Party leadership election]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
↑"野田佳彦氏の推薦人名簿 立憲民主党代表選"[Yoshihiko Noda's list of supporters: Constitutional Democratic Party leadership election]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
↑"吉田晴美氏の推薦人名簿 立憲民主党代表選"[Harumi Yoshida's list of supporters: Constitutional Democratic Party leadership election]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
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