Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki remains the favorite to win the upcoming gubernatorial election, thanks to strong support from voters opposed to a central government-backed plan to relocate a U.S. military base within the southern island prefecture, a Kyodo News survey showed Monday.
The 62-year-old incumbent, backed by the opposition camp, was followed by ruling-coalition-backed Atsushi Sakima, 58, making the race look increasingly like a rerun of the 2018 face-off between the two candidates.
Former Lower House lawmaker Mikio Shimoji, 61, has not gained widespread support ahead of the Sept. 11 gubernatorial election, the telephone poll showed.