Rudneva O.O. Regional elections 2025: an analysis of electoral preferences and party competition. Political Science and Technology. 2025;5(4): 01PK425. Available at: https: ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://politicjournal.ru/PDF/01PK425.pdf (дата обращения 11.12.2025)

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2025 regional elections in the Russian Federation, including both direct and indirect elections for heads of federal subjects, as well as campaigns to form legislative (representative) bodies. The study aims to identify key characteristics of citizens' electoral preferences, the degree of party competition, and the stability of the political system at the current stage of the development of Russian federalism. The study's empirical basis consists of official data on voting results in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, published by the Central Electoral Commission. Comparative statistical and content analysis of the electoral campaigns were used for the analysis, revealing spatial differences in political behavior, determining the influence of institutional factors on electoral activity, and assessing the effectiveness of regional party organizations' strategies. It was established that the All-Russian political party United Russia maintained its dominant position, securing victory in most regions in both elections for heads of federal subjects and legislative assemblies. Opposition political forces-namely, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and the A Just Russia — For Truth party-managed to maintain their positions, but their results did not significantly impact the overall distribution of power. The study's results indicate a decline in the level of political competition and institutional consolidation among regional elites, reflecting a trend toward strengthening the model of managed political stability and further centralization of the party-state system in contemporary Russia.