Inside Russia's State Duma Elections: Key Contenders, Stakes, and What to Expect

Russians are heading to the polls from Friday to Sunday to elect members of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament. This marks the first parliamentary election held since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, taking place amidst a slowing economy and Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and warehouses far from the front line.

United Russia, the governing party backing President Vladimir Putin, is widely expected to maintain its dominant position. While authorities present the election as an opportunity for voters to have a say, critics argue that the absence of genuine opposition means the outcome is largely predetermined.

How Do Russia’s Elections Work?

Spanning three days through Sunday, the vote covers members of the State Duma alongside local races. Voters in 11 regions are selecting their governors, while 39 regions are choosing members of regional legislatures. This extended voting period aims to boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters, a group that includes areas in Ukraine currently occupied by Russia. Electronic voting is also permitted, with half of the Duma’s 450 seats filled by party lists and the remaining half contested in single-ballot races.

What Is United Russia?

Formed in 2001 through a merger of pro-Kremlin factions, Russia’s governing party has consistently backed President Vladimir Putin and dominated the parliament. Securing more than two-thirds of the Duma’s seats in the 2021 election, the party is again poised for a commanding performance.

The party list features prominent political heavyweights, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov—Russia’s top diplomat for 22 years—and Moscow’s powerful mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. In an effort to introduce fresh faces to a party often viewed as bureaucratic, its third-highest-ranking official is war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny, who was severely wounded by a Ukrainian drone. United Russia members have pledged unwavering support for the war effort and the Kremlin's maximalist goals in Ukraine.

Who Else Is Running?

Alongside United Russia, several "systemic opposition" parties that generally align with the government on key issues remain on the ballot. The liberal Yabloko Party, which stood as the sole registered political party opposing the war, was removed from the ballot in August by the Supreme Court, which cited its antiwar stance as a threat to Russia’s territorial integrity. Yabloko is now limited to single-ballot races.

The Communist Party, led for over three decades by 82-year-old former Soviet official Gennady Zyuganov, has been a fixture in the Federal Assembly since the 1990s. While critiquing certain government policies, the party avoids criticizing President Vladimir Putin directly and firmly supports the war in Ukraine. Political analyst and independent journalist Alexander Bratersky noted that a second-place finish for the Communists could indicate voter frustration with economic hardship and falling living standards.

The Liberal Democratic Party, an ultranationalist force present in the legislature since the early 1990s, is expected to retain influence and heavily supports the war, boasting multiple military veterans among its members. Smaller groups like A Just Russia and the New People Party also feature on the ballot, with the latter positioning itself as a technocratic, liberal-leaning voice for younger voters and the middle class. Additional participating groups include the Communists of Russia, the Party of Pensioners, the Green Party, the Party of Direct Democracy, and the Motherland Party.

Why Do the Elections Matter to the Kremlin?

While the vote may appear routine, Alexander Bratersky emphasized that its significance lies in being the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has tightly linked the elections to war support, telling the United Russia party congress in August that their primary duty is "to do everything for victory." Bratersky observed that the Kremlin remains somewhat cautious, viewing the ballot box as the sole legal avenue for expressing dissent against a ruling party that even core supporters frequently view with skepticism.