Despite being a member of the ruling United Russia party, Sobyanin ran as an Independent and won the election with 51.37% of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff with a second-place finisher Aleksey Navalny (PARNAS, 27.24%).

[3] During his administration, Sergey Sobyanin received positive remarks for resolving Moscow's transportation and social infrastructure problems, redeveloping of public spaces and bringing under control outdoor advertising and illegal construction.

[5] Sobyanin's success as Mayor prompted speculations about his potential promotion, allegedly he was a candidate for Prime Minister of Russia in early 2020, when Dmitry Medvedev resigned from the position,[6] however, President Vladimir Putin appointed Mikhail Mishustin to lead the Government.

[7] Nevertheless, Sergey Sobyanin also received criticism for his infrastructure projects, most notably for mass renovation of housing stock, which was bashed for government overreach and forced relocation of citizens.

[9] Aleksey Navalny's FBK also attacked Moscow's officials, bringing forward allegations of corruption against Deputy Mayors Anastasia Rakova, Pyotr Biryukov, Aleksandr Gorbenko and Natalya Sergunina.