Motohiko Saito has successfully reclaimed his position as Hyogo governor after being embroiled in scandal and allegations that led to his forced removal from office by the prefectural assembly following workplace bullying and corruption accusations. Despite this challenging backdrop, Saito emerged victorious in the gubernatorial election, securing over 1.1 million votes, which marked a significant increase from his initial election in 2021.
During his campaign, Saito acknowledged the concerns surrounding the prefectural administration stemming from the whistleblower accusations but expressed gratitude for the voters' expectations to move the administration forward. He faced criticism from his opponent, Kazumi Inamura, former mayor of Amagasaki, who questioned Saito's handling of the scandal, but ultimately fell short in the election with Saito winning by a substantial margin. The voter turnout for this election saw an increase to 55.65 percent compared to the previous election's 41.10 percent, indicating heightened engagement from the electorate.
Saito's road to re-election was marked by a grassroots campaign that garnered support from around 500 volunteers, as he stressed his accomplishments during his first term and leveraged social media to connect with a broader audience. Despite not having official backing from a political party, his campaign efforts resonated particularly well in urban areas like Kobe, Himeji, and Nishinomiya, where he garnered significant support. Moving forward, Saito expressed his intention to collaborate with the prefectural assembly and government bureaucrats, fostering an atmosphere of humility and careful communication to work towards the betterment of the prefecture.