The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) is undergoing a period of introspection following their disappointing turnout in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, where their candidate Renho placed third behind Yuriko Koike. Kiyomi Tsujimoto, an executive deputy president of the party, expressed concern about the party’s viability and emphasized the need for renewal in the wake of the election results.
While the election was expected to be a showdown between the incumbent and Renho, it was independent candidate Shinji Ishimaru who managed to appeal to young and unaffiliated voters, a demographic Renho had aimed to capture. The CDP's defeat has brought into question their partnership with the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), as critics believe this alliance hindered the party's ability to attract middle-of-the-road and conservative voters.
Yukio Edano, a former CDP president, highlighted the importance of advocating for concrete policies to win over a diverse array of non-aligned voters. The party’s leadership is facing criticism for failing to collaborate effectively with other opposition parties, with calls for broader alliances beyond the JCP to strengthen their electoral prospects and chances in the upcoming party presidential election.