Pro-Putin party gets record 355 parliamentary seats

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

The United Russia party won a record 355 out of 450 seats in Russia’s State Duma election, increasing its share to nearly 80% amid a tightly controlled political environment. This dominant victory strengthens President Putin’s ability to pass legislation and constitutional changes unilaterally, while opposition parties remain marginal and dissenting voices are largely excluded.

The pro-Putin United Russia party secured a record number of seats in Russia’s national parliament, according to near-final official results released Monday. The election for the State Duma—the country’s lower house—was held over three days and marked the first parliamentary vote since Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Regional elections for governors and local legislatures were conducted simultaneously.

With over 95% of ballots counted, the Central Electoral Commission reported that United Russia captured approximately 57.8% of the vote, an increase from 49.8% in the 2021 election. This translates to 355 seats out of 450 in the Duma, nearly 80% of the total, surpassing the party’s previous record of 343 seats in 2016. United Russia’s majority allows it to pass legislation and initiate constitutional amendments independently.

Four other parties crossed the 5% threshold to gain representation: the Communist Party with 13.8%, the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) with 9%, the New People party with 8%, and Just Russia narrowly clearing the cutoff. These parties have generally aligned with United Russia on major policy decisions in recent years.

In regional outcomes, Ramzan Kadyrov, the pro-Putin head of Chechnya, was re-elected to a fifth term with an official vote count nearing 100%.

Voter turnout was reported at a record 59.3% of approximately 111 million eligible voters, despite a significant drone attack on Moscow by Ukrainian forces on the final day of polling. Central Electoral Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova described the vote as “clean,” countering claims from opposition activists in exile who alleged widespread electoral fraud.

The Yabloko party, Russia’s only registered anti-war political group, failed to win any seats on the national level. However, it appeared to surpass the 5% threshold in the Novgorod regional parliament, securing a small foothold with support from over 12,000 residents. Yabloko advocates for a ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized values of peace and freedom in their post-election statement.

Public reaction varied across Moscow. Some residents expressed resignation or acceptance of the results, noting the election outcome was unsurprising in the current political climate. Several vocalized hopes for an end to the conflict in Ukraine and improved domestic conditions such as reduced fuel supply disruptions and stabilized prices. Meanwhile, others said they were content with the status quo and did not seek changes following the vote.

Observers noted the election took place amid a tightly controlled political environment where meaningful opposition is limited, with many anti-government candidates barred from participation. Authorities have framed the election as an expression of national unity and support for the government’s actions in Ukraine.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.