2016 Democratic Party (Japan, 2016) leadership election
The Democratic Party held a presidential election on 15 September 2016. It was the party's first election since the formation of the party from the merger of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party. The race determined the successor of acting president Katsuya Okada who decided against running for a full term.
Candidates
Running
- Renho, former cabinet minister and sitting member of the House of Councillors.
- Seiji Maehara, former party president and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Yuichiro Tamaki, member of the House of Representatives and former bureaucrat.
Potential or has publicly expressed interest
- Akihisa Nagashima, former vice defense minister.
Declined to run
- Katsuya Okada, acting party president.
- Goshi Hosono, former party policy chief and candidate in the 2015 DPJ presidential election.
Results
| Candidates | Total points | Caucus | Endorsed candidates | Local councillors | Party members & supporters |
| Renhō | 503pts | 80 | 50 | 847 | 59,539 |
| Seiji Maehara | 230pts | 42 | 44 | 335 | 26,045 |
| Yūichiro Tamaki | 116pts | 25 | 24 | 207 | 9,808 |
| Invalid votes | - | 0 | 0 | 4 | 789 |
| Total | 849pts | 147 | 118 | 1,393 | 96,181 |