The electoral campaign in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District in 2026

The electoral campaign in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District in 2026 is taking place under a revised district scheme. On the single voting day - from September 18 to 20 - residents of the regions will elect deputies to the State Duma of the IX convocation, renew regional parliaments, and determine new leaders of the republics, including through direct elections for the head of Chechnya.

In the elections for deputies to the State Duma of the IX convocation in September 2026, 450 deputy mandates will be filled: 225 mandates from the federal electoral district and 225 mandates from single-member electoral districts ¹. In the federal electoral district (by party lists), the participation of 10 political parties has been approved. Initially, the Central Election Commission registered 11 parties. However, after the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation finally canceled the registration of the "Yabloko" party list, it was completely excluded from the federal ballot, but the participation of candidates in single-member districts was not canceled.

North Caucasus Federal District

In the North Caucasus Federal District, there are 12 single-member districts. In Dagestan, there are 3 single-member districts: Makhachkala, Buynaksk, and Derbent. In the Stavropol Territory, there are 4 single-member districts: Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk, Kavminvody, and Georgievsk. In Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, and Ingushetia, there is 1 single-member district each ².

Chechnya

In Chechnya, voting will take place for deputies of the IX convocation according to federal lists and the Chechen single-member electoral district. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and "Fair Russia - For Truth".

In the elections, residents of Chechnya will elect the head of the region. Unlike most neighboring republics of the North Caucasus Federal District, the governor here is elected directly by the residents, not by the parliament deputies. Three candidates have officially been nominated for the position of Head of the Chechen Republic:

Ramzan Kadyrov — the current Head of the Chechen Republic ³. Nominated by the regional branch of the "United Russia" party with public support from Vladimir Putin ⁴.

The other two candidates are: Khalid Nakaev — a deputy of the Parliament of the Chechen Republic. Nominated by the Chechen Republican branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Ismail Denilkhanov — Deputy Head of the Administration of the Head and Government of the Chechen Republic. Nominated by the regional branch of the "Fair Russia - Patriots - For Truth" party. ⁵.

In September 2026, elections for deputies of the local parliament of the VI convocation and municipal campaigns will take place in the Chechen Republic, where 41 deputy mandates will be filled.

There will also be elections for deputies of the Grozny City Duma and representative bodies of fifteen municipal districts, where 340 mandates will be filled through a proportional system ⁶.

Dagestan

In Dagestan, three single-member electoral districts have been created for the elections to the State Duma. The Dagestan Election Commission has registered candidate lists from five parties for the elections to the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", and "New People".

In the elections to the People's Assembly of Dagestan of the VIII convocation, Dagestanis will elect 90 deputies for a term of 5 years. The elections are held under a proportional system (voting for party lists without single-member districts ⁷.

Indirect elections for the head of the region will also take place in the republic. The new convocation of the regional parliament will elect a full-fledged Head of the Republic by secret ballot. The main candidate is the acting head of the region Fedor Shchukin, whose candidacy has been officially supported by the "United Russia" party. In several cities and districts of Dagestan, local campaigns will be held for the elections of deputies to local representative bodies and heads of rural settlements. ⁸.

The Republic of North Ossetia – Alania

In North Ossetia – Alania, voting will take place in one district ⁹. The single-member ballots include "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", and "New People".

The region conducts indirect elections for the head of the republic – the head of the region will be elected by the parliament from three candidates proposed by the President of the Russian Federation ¹⁰.

On August 27, 2026, Vladimir Putin officially submitted three candidates for the position of head of the republic for consideration by the Parliament of North Ossetia, including the current head Sergey Menyaylo. The final list also included Oleg Varnavin and deputy Chermen Dudati, with the final vote scheduled for the single voting day on September 20, 2026 ¹¹.

Municipal elections will also take place in certain districts.

Karachay-Cherkessia

In the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, there is one single-member district. The ballots include "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "Greens", "Communists of Russia", "Party of Pensioners", and "Yabloko" (candidate Akhmed Abazov).

The region will also hold indirect elections for the head of the region. The governor will be elected by the deputies of the People's Assembly upon the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation ¹². On August 27, 2026, Vladimir Putin officially submitted three candidates for the position of head of the republic for consideration by the Parliament of Karachay-Cherkessia, including the current head of the republic Rashid Temrezov, as well as deputies of the republican parliament Alexander Chayka and Krym Shnakhov ¹³.

Kabardino-Balkaria

The republic will hold elections for a deputy to the State Duma and 122 local-level electoral campaigns. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, "Fair Russia - For Truth", and "New People".

During these elections, deputies of local self-government councils will be elected in all urban districts and rural settlements of the region — a total of 1505 mandates will be distributed ¹⁴.

Ingushetia

The republic will hold voting for deputies of the IX convocation in one district. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and "Fair Russia - For Truth".

There will also be elections for party lists of deputies of the new convocation of the republican parliament. Residents will distribute 32 deputy mandates for a term of 5 years ¹⁵.

In several districts of the republic, elections for deputies to rural councils of municipal formations will also take place. ¹⁶.

Stavropol Territory

In Stavropol, voting for the State Duma of the IX convocation will take place in four electoral districts – Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk, Kavminvody, and Georgievsk. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, "Fair Russia - For Truth", and "New People".

There will also be elections for the Duma of Stavropol Territory of the VIII convocation. Residents will elect 50 deputies under a mixed electoral system: 25 people — by party lists and 25 people — by single-member districts. ¹⁷.

Southern Federal District

In the Southern Federal District, according to the approved new scheme, the Central Election Commission has redistributed 22 districts. In Krasnodar Territory, there are 9 single-member districts – one new district has been added. In Rostov Region, there are 6 single-member districts – one less. In Volgograd Region, there are 3 single-member districts – one less. In Astrakhan Region, Adygea, and Kalmykia – there is 1 single-member district each. The federal city of Sevastopol has 1 single-member district. Sevastopol and Crimea are also included in the federal district – a total of 4 single-member districts ¹⁸.

Adygea

In the federal campaign, residents vote for party lists and a candidate in the single-member district. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", and the "Party of Pensioners".

The main regional campaign is the elections of deputies to the republican parliament – the State Council-Khase ¹⁹. Deputies will be elected under a mixed system: some mandates will be distributed by party lists - 6 parties have registered lists, and some — by single-member districts, where 103 candidates are registered ²⁰.

Astrakhan Region

In Astrakhan Region, there is one single-member district for the elections to the State Duma. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", and the "Party of Pensioners".

Local self-government elections will also take place in several municipal formations of the region. During the elections to the Duma of Astrakhan Region, a new VIII convocation of the regional parliament will be fully formed. Residents will elect 44 deputies under a mixed system: 22 mandates will be distributed by party lists and 22 — by single-member districts. ²¹. In certain districts of the region, elections for deputies to rural and municipal councils will take place.

Volgograd Region

In Volgograd Region, there are three single-member districts for the elections to the State Duma. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", and "Yabloko".

There will also be additional elections to the Volgograd Regional Duma and 33 local electoral campaigns in rural and district councils ²².

Kalmykia

In Kalmykia, there is one single-member district for the elections to the State Duma. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", and the "Party of Pensioners".

There will also be additional elections for deputies of the Elista City Assembly in single-member electoral districts ²³.

Krasnodar Territory

In Kuban, elections to the State Duma will take place in nine electoral districts ²⁴. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from the parties "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", the "Party of Pensioners", "Greens", "Rodina", and "Yabloko" (candidates are registered in 3 districts of the territory).

There will also be by-elections for deputies of the Krasnodar City Duma in two single-member districts. In some areas of the territory, heads of rural settlements and deputies of local councils will be elected ²⁵.

Rostov Region

Elections to the State Duma will take place in six single-member electoral districts. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia", the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, "Fair Russia - For Truth", "New People", "Communists of Russia", the "Party of Pensioners", and "Yabloko" (candidates are registered in 2 districts of the region).

In 399 urban and rural settlements across all 43 districts of the region, residents will elect more than 4,000 local deputies. Additional elections to the regional Legislative Assembly are also planned. ²⁶.

Notes

1. In the certified federal party lists of candidates for the State Duma, there are 247 people // Interfax, 08.07.2026.
2. http://government.ru/docs/all/159107/
3. Ramzan Kadyrov has been registered as a candidate for the position of Head of the Chechen Republic // Bulletin of the Chechen Republic Election Commission, 06.08.2026.
4. Putin expressed hope that the people of Chechnya would support Kadyrov in the upcoming elections // Interfax, 29.04.2026.
5. Three candidates have been nominated for the position of Head of the Chechen Republic // Grozny-inform, 13.07.2026.
6. Electoral campaigns for the elections of the Head and Parliament of the Republic have started in the Chechen Republic // Grozny-inform, 23.06.2026.
7. The Dagestan Election Commission has registered candidate lists from five parties for the elections to the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan // dagestan.izbirkom.ru
8. Candidates for the positions of heads of Dagestan, North Ossetia, and Karachay-Cherkessia have been proposed to the president by "United Russia" // Interfax, 31.07.2026.
9. http://www.n-osset-alania.izbirkom.ru/20-09-2026-gos-duma/
10. The president wished for the best // Kommersant, 16.06.2026.
11. t.me/parlamentrso_a/7962
12. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with the Head of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic Rashid Temrezov // Arkhyz 24, 16.04.2026.
13. Putin submitted candidates for the posts of heads of North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia // Kommersant, 27.08.2026.
14. Kabardino-Balkaria is preparing for the 2026 elections // RIA Kabardino-Balkaria, 31.07.2026.
15. Elections for deputies of the Ingushetia parliament will take place on September 20 // Interfax, 20.06.2026.
16. http://izbirkom.ru/election/588288534/commission/7f621305-9a24-471f-aff3-6f6f8049e993/?tab=reports
17. 472 candidates have been registered for the elections to the Stavropol parliament // Kommersant, 17.08.2026.
18. http://government.ru/docs/all/159107/
19. In Adygea, the regulations for conducting elections for deputies of the republican parliament of the next convocation have been determined // GTRK "Adygea", 18.06.2026.
20. Zuriye Jada commented on the report "EDG-2026: results of registration and entry into the final campaign" // Adygea Today, 27.08.2026.
21. 165 candidates have been nominated for the elections to the Astrakhan City Duma // Bloknot Astrakhan, 04.08.2026.
22. http://www.volgograd.izbirkom.ru/news/2259/
23. In Kalmykia, the electoral campaign for the elections to the State Duma has officially started // RIA "Kalmykia", 17.06.2026.
24. Party distribution // Kommersant, 14.07.2026.
25. http://krasnodar.izbirkom.ru/
26. Electoral campaigns - 2026: more than four thousand deputies are to be elected // rostov-leninsky.ikro.ru/, 26.11.2025.