Atsushi Sakima's successful bid for the mayoral seat in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, marked his return to office after previously serving from 2012 to 2018. He clinched victory by aligning himself with the proponent stance on the contentious issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture. The support from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito played a significant role in securing Sakima's win, making it the fifth consecutive victory for a candidate backed by these political entities in Ginowan's mayoral elections.
Sakima's opponent, Isao Tobaru, who advocated for the closure of the Futenma base but opposed its relocation to Henoko, was backed by Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki and several opposition parties. His defeat dealt another blow to Tamaki, who has been a vocal critic of the relocation plan and has been advocating for the base to be moved to another location within Japan. Tobaru's concerns about the challenges associated with reinforcing the soft seabed at the Henoko reclamation site and the potential lengthy construction delays there were among the key points of contention in the election campaign.