[2] Limarenko, despite being a member of United Russia party, ran for a full term as an Independent and faced a spirited challenge from Communist State Duma member from Primorsky Krai Aleksey Korniyenko.

[3] Former State Duma member and 2015 gubernatorial runner-up Svetlana Ivanova failed to secure support from CPRF and ran as an Independent but was unable to pass the municipal filter.

[5] In Sakhalin Oblast candidates for Governor can be nominated by registered political parties or by self-nomination.

Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 10% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.

Governor Limarenko re-appointed incumbent Senator Grigory Karasin (Independent) to the Federation Council.