The governor is the highest-ranking official and head of administration of the government of Moscow Oblast, and is elected for a five-year term that is renewable once consecutively.

State Duma deputy Boris Gromov (Fatherland bloc) was elected Governor of Moscow Oblast for a term of four years.

In December 2004, at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, the gubernatorial elections by direct popular vote were replaced by appointment by the legislative bodies on the presidential proposal.

On 4 April 2012, Minister of Emergency Situations Sergey Shoigu was proposed by the United Russia party as a candidate for the governor.

[2] On 8 November 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Andrey Vorobyov as interim governor of Moscow Oblast.