The 2022 Saratov Oblast gubernatorial election took place on 9âÂÂ11 September 2022, on common election day. Acting Governor Roman Busargin was elected to a full term.
Valery Radaev served as Governor of Saratov Oblast since 2012, when he was confirmed in the position by Saratov Oblast Duma. Governor Radaev won his second term in 2017 election with 74.63% of the vote. In October 2021 during a dispute with Saratov Oblast Duma member Nikolai Bondarenko, Radaev made a comment that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2022. Despite Radaev's comments and other rumours about his potential departure, the governor had a powerful ally in State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, which strengthened his position. However, on 10 May 2022 Valery Radaev asked to resign along with four other governors, Chairman of the Government of Saratov Oblast Roman Busargin was appointed acting Governor of Saratov Oblast. After his appointment, Busargin didn't resign from his previous position, instead combining the offices of Governor and Prime Minister of Saratov Oblast.
Due to the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent economic sanctions, the cancellation and postponement of direct gubernatorial elections was proposed. The measure was even supported by A Just Russia leader Sergey Mironov. Eventually, on 10 June Saratov Oblast Duma called the gubernatorial election for 11 September 2022.
Only political parties can nominate candidates for gubernatorial election in Saratov Oblast, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidates are not obliged to be members of the nominating party. Candidate for Governor of Saratov Oblast should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 6% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities (191âÂÂ200 signatures). Also, gubernatorial candidates present three candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.
Incumbent Senator Sergey Arenin was not renominated.
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Candidate ! style="text-align:left;"| Party ! width="75"|Votes ! width="30"|% |- | style="background-color:;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Roman Busargin (incumbent) | style="text-align:left;"| United Russia | 716,974 | 72.55 |- | style="background-color:| | style="text-align:left;"| Olga Alimova | style="text-align:left;"| Communist Party | 140,198 | 14.19 |- | style="background-color:| | style="text-align:left;"| Artem Chebotarev | style="text-align:left;"| A Just Russia â For Truth | 56,606 | 5.73 |- | style="background-color:;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Dmitry Pyanykh | style="text-align:left;"| Liberal Democratic Party | 44,617 | 4.52 |- | style="background-color:;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Aleksandr Vantsov | style="text-align:left;"| Rodina | 20,756 | 2.10 |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Valid votes | 979,151 | 99.08 |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Blank ballots | 9,033 | 0.91 |- style="font-weight:bold" | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Total | 988,194 | 100.00 |- | style="background-color:#E9E9E9;" colspan="6"| |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Turnout | 988,194 | 53.71 |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Registered voters | 1,839,804 | 100.00 |- | colspan="5" style="background-color:#E9E9E9;"| |- style="font-weight:bold" | colspan="4" |Source: |
Former Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov (Independent) was appointed to the Federation Council, replacing incumbent Senator Sergey Arenin (Independent).