Aleksandr Osipov, former First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic, was appointed acting Governor of Zabaykalsky Krai in October 2018.

[1] Osipov replaced retiring Governor Natalia Zhdanova, who resigned at her own request three years before the end of her first term.

Zhdanova's resignation was mostly credited to low performance in socio-economic development, decreasing approval ratings and poor results of United Russia in the 2018 regional elections.

[2] Legislative Assembly of Zabaykalsky Krai changed the electoral law in March 2019, allowing Independent candidates to run in the gubernatorial election.

Governor Osipov re-appointed incumbent Senator Bair Zhamsuyev (United Russia) to the Federation Council.