The incumbent mayor, Tri Rismaharini, popularly known as Risma, was running for re-election against the former Provincial Secretary of East Java, Rasiyo.

[2] The election was close to being postponed until 2017 as less than two candidates was registered by the end of the nominations period.

In early August 2015, the PD and PAN attempted to nominate former journalist, Dhimam Abror Djuraid, paired with Haries Purwoko.

Several weeks after the failed first attempt, Dhimas was nominated again, this time with Rasiyo as his running mate.

On 8 September, Rasiyo, paired with Lucy Kurniasari, were registered in the KPUD, ending the saga and allowing the election to proceed as scheduled.