2024 Altai head election

The 2024 Altai Republic head election will take place on 6–8 September 2024, on common election day, coinciding with 2024 Altai Republic State Assembly election. Acting Head Andrey Turchak is running to a full term in office.

Background
Oleg Khorokhordin, then-Federal Government Apparatus staffer and GLONASS board chairman, was appointed acting Head of the Altai Republic in March 2019. Khorokhordin replaced three-term incumbent Alexander Berdnikov, who resigned at his own request and was later appointed Rosgeologia executive.

Khorokhordin, officially an Independent, was nominated for a full term by United Russia. The 2019 election was regarded as highly competitive with some experts viewed the possibility of a second round. Khorokhordin won the election with 58.82% of the vote in the second closest election of the cycle (the margin, however, was still overwhelming), defeating former State Duma member Viktor Romashkin (CPRF) by 27 points.

Poor management and public conflicts with local Altai elite led to speculations about Khorokhordin's potential retirement, which further intensified in early June 2024. Unexpectedly rumours had surfaced about the potential appointment of First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council and Secretary General of United Russia party Andrey Turchak as acting Head of the republic, which was viewed likely as a demotion. On June 4 Khorokhordin announced his resignation and President of Russia Vladimir Putin during a video conference with Turchak offered him a position as acting Head of the Altai Republic, which Turchak accepted. Andrey Turchak previously served as Governor of Pskov Oblast in 2009–2017.

Candidates
In the Altai Republic candidates for Head can be nominated only by registered political parties. Candidate for Head of the Altai Republic should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Head should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 7% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities. Also head candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

Eliminated at convention

 * Tatyana Gigel (United Russia), Senator from Altai Republic (2014–present)
 * Aydar Myzin (United Russia), Member of State Assembly of the Altai Republic (2019–present)

Declined

 * Viktor Romashkin (CPRF), Member of State Assembly of the Altai Republic (1993–1995, 2006–present), former Member of State Duma (1995–1999), 1997, 2001, 2014 and 2019 gubernatorial candidate