or after 15 September 2020. 31 August – Party officials announce the election will be held on 14 September 2020. 1 September – Former Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba officially announce their candidacies. 2 September – Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga officially announces his candidacy. 8 September – Campaign officially began. The candidates held a joint press conference. 9 September – The first of two public debate between the leadership candidates was held. 12 September – The second public debate between the leadership candidates was held. 14 September – The election was held; Yoshihide Suga wins on the first ballot with 377 votes. Candidates Declared Declined Tarō Asō, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, member of the House of Representatives for Fukuoka 8th district; former Prime Minister (2008–2009) and former party president (2008–2009). Grandson of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and brother of Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. Tomomi Inada, member of the House of Representatives for Fukui 1st district; former Minister of Defense (2016-2017), Minister of Administrative Reform (2012-2014), Minister of State for Regulatory Reform (2012-2014). Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, member of the House of Representatives for Kanagawa 11th district. Son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Tarō Kōno, runner-up in the 2009 leadership election; Minister of Defense, member of the House of Representatives for Kanagawa 15th district; former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017–2019) and former Chair of the National Public Safety Commission (2015–2016). Son of Yōhei Kōno, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the House of Representatives for Tochigi 5th district; former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2012–2014). Yasutoshi Nishimura, third place candidate in the 2009 leadership election; Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, member of the House of Representatives for Hyogo 9th district. Seiko Noda, member of the House of Representatives for Gifu 1st district; former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (2017–2018). Wife of Yōsuke Tsuruho, member of the House of Councillors for Wakayama Prefecture. Hakubun Shimomura, current party election strategy chief, member of the House of Representatives for Tokyo 11th district; former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2012–2015). Endorsements Opinion polling Nationwide Results 44 prefectural LDP branches held primaries, while the prefectural federations in Hokkaidō and Niigata conducted questionnaire-style surveys among their members and the LDP Akita didn't hold any form of