2019 Okinawa 3rd district by-election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2019 Okinawa 3rd district by-election

| country = Japan

| type = by-election

| seats_for_election = Okinawa 3rd district

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2017 Japanese general election

| previous_year = 2017

| next_election = Next Japanese general election

| next_year = Next

| election_date = 21 April 2019

| turnout = 43.99%

| image1 =

Ind.

| party1 = Independent (politician)

| popular_vote1 = 77,156

| percentage1 = 56.49%

| image2 = x160px

| party2 = Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

| popular_vote2 = 59,428

| percentage2 = 43.51%

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = Representative

| before_election = Denny Tamaki

| before_party = Liberal Party (Japan, 2016)

| after_election = Tomohiro YaraYara joined the Liberal caucus soon after he was elected.

| after_party = Independent (politician)

| candidate1 = Tomohiro Yara

| candidate2 = Aiko Shimajiri

}}

A by-election for the Okinawa 3rd district in the Japanese House of Representatives was held on 21 April 2019.{{cite news|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|accessdate=21 January 2019|title=EDITORIAL: Henoko base row now much more than just a local political issue |date=15 December 2018|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201812150022.html}}

Background

The seat became vacant following the candidacy and election of its representative, Denny Tamaki to the governorship of Okinawa Prefecture. Tamaki was one of the two representatives from the Liberal Party in the House. He had served the district almost continuously since 2009 and defended the seat by a 17.56% margin in the 2017 election. The by-election was held on the same day with the second round of the unified local elections and another House by-election in the Osaka 12th district. The Okinawa-wide referendum in February influenced the by-election campaign.

The candidate supported by Tamaki and the All-Okinawa coalition, Tomohiro Yara won the by-election against LDP candidate and former minister Aiko Shimajiri.{{cite news|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201904100028.html|title=LDP loses both by-elections in Okinawa, Osaka prefectures|date=22 April 2019|accessdate=23 April 2019}}

Candidates

Aiko Shimajiri (LDP), former member of the House of Councillors and cabinet minister.{{cite news|publisher=Okinawa Times|accessdate=22 February 2019|title=屋良・島尻氏一騎打ちへ衆院沖縄3区補選「オール沖縄」対自民|date=28 December 2018|url=https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/365174|language=Japanese}}
Tomohiro Yara (LP), freelance journalist (endorsed by the All-Okinawa coalition).