Federation Council member Dmitry Azarov, a former Mayor of Samara, was appointed acting Governor of Samara Oblast in September 2017, replacing controversial 5-year Governor Nikolay Merkushkin, who resigned at his own request.

[1] Azarov overwhelmingly won the 2018 gubernatorial election in his own right with 72.63% of the vote over a field of 5 opponents.

[2] In Samara Oblast candidates for Governor can be nominated only by registered political parties, self-nomination is not possible.

Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 5% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.

Governor Azarov re-appointed incumbent Senator Farit Mukhametshin (Independent) to the Federation Council.