Political parties and entities in the Kurdistan Region have fielded 483 candidates across the three regional provinces and disputed territories for the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections. Alongside these, there are 8 independent candidates, underlining the dynamic political landscape in this Kurdish region.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)

The KDP has 175 candidates for the Iraqi Council of Representatives elections. This figure excludes its support for a Feyli Kurdish list in Baghdad, which has nominated approximately 30 candidates.

The party’s candidate distribution is as follows: 61 in Nineveh province, 30 in Erbil, 36 in Sulaimani, 24 in Kirkuk, and 22 in Duhok. The KDP also has two candidates in Diyala and Salah al-Din provinces. They are running on Sunni leader Muthanna al-Samarrai‘s “Azm” list, highlighting its engagement with broader Kurdish and non-Kurdish alliances.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

The PUK has 155 candidates across the Kurdistan Region and disputed territories. Additionally, the party has one candidate in Baghdad, Ayat Feyli, running on the Iraqi Prime Minister’s list.

In its stronghold of Sulaimani province, the PUK has 36 candidates. In Nineveh, the party is participating with 32 candidates through the Ahl Nineveh Alliance. This coalition of three political entities is fielding 61 total candidates.

The PUK’s remaining candidates are distributed as follows: 30 in Erbil, 5 in Duhok, 24 in Kirkuk, and 27 in Diyala. In Salah al-Din province, the party has one candidate on the Jamahir list led by the province’s former governor.

New Generation Movement

New Generation is participating in its first election without its leader. They are fielding 43 candidates across the three regional provinces and disputed territories. However, the party has no candidates in Salah al-Din province, a strategic choice in the broader landscape of Kurdish politics.

The movement’s candidate breakdown: 12 in Sulaimani, 8 in Erbil, 5 in Duhok, 7 in Nineveh, 7 in Kirkuk, and 4 in Diyala.

Kurdistan Islamic Union

The Union is competing only in the regional provinces with 16 candidates: 8 in Sulaimani, 4 in Erbil, and 4 in Duhok.

Halwest Movement

Halwest Movement is participating only in the three Kurdistan Region provinces with 32 candidates. This includes 16 in Sulaimani, 12 in Erbil, and 4 in Duhok, reinforcing its focus within Kurdish areas.

Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal)

Komal is also competing exclusively in the regional provinces with 14 candidates total. Their distribution is 5 in Erbil, 5 in Sulaimani, and 4 in Duhok.

People’s Front

The People’s Front, led by Lahur Sheikh Jangi, is participating in the elections under the name “Our People’s Front”. This represents its official registration in Iraq, representing a broad mix of Kurdish political voices.

Our People’s Front has 25 candidates in the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk. They include 11 in Sulaimani, 5 in Kirkuk, 5 in Duhok, and 4 in Erbil.

Kurdistan Social Democratic Party

The Social Democratic Party has 23 candidates. Their distribution is 5 in Kirkuk, 5 in Diyala, 5 in Duhok, 4 in Erbil, and 4 in Sulaimani. All are seeking to influence the future of this Kurdish region.

Independent Candidates

Eight individuals are running as independents across the Kurdistan Region and disputed territories. The count includes 4 in Sulaimani, 2 in Erbil, 1 in Duhok, and 1 in Kirkuk.