The mayoral seat was contested between Gibran Rakabuming Raka and independent candidate Bagyo Wahyono.

There were two candidates running in the election:[2][3] The local office of PDI-P initially appeared to be intent on nominating Surakarta's deputy mayor Achmad Purnomo for the mayoral race, but Gibran entered the race through the provincial branch of the party, and the central board of the party itself eventually opted to nominate Gibran, alongside Teguh Prakosa who was the party's secretary in Surakarta.

[4] The incumbent mayor F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo had previously endorsed Purnomo, but accepted Gibran's nomination.

His candidacy was based on grassroots support by the Tikus Pithi Hanoto Baris organization.

His running mate, FX Supardjo, served as the head of a local rukun warga community.