It was held to elect the governor of East Nusa Tenggara along with their deputy, whilst members of the provincial council (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah) will be re-elected in 2019.

With incumbent Frans Lebu Raya meeting his term limits, People's Representative Council member Viktor Laiskodat came ahead in the four-candidate race, defeating former deputy governor Esthon Foenay alongside Ngada Regency leader Marianus Sae and fellow legislator Benediktus Kabur Harman.

[6] An independent candidate pair attempted to run for the election, but failed to collect the needed 272,300 identity cards.

His running mate Emmilia Nomleni is a provincial councilor from PDI-P between 2009 and 2014.

[8] Viktor Laiskodat, also a member of the national parliament, headed the Nasdem faction in the People's Representative Council, with his running mate Josef Adreanus Nae Soi being a former national legislator serving from 2004 to 2014.