<![CDATA[In a competitive multiparty system dominated by larger secular-nationalist and mass-based Islamic parties, the survival of mid-sized Islamic parties like the United Development Party (Partai Persatuan Pembangunan, PPP) depends on effective electoral strategy. This study analyzes how PPP secured legislative seats in the 2024–2029 Jombang Regency Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and identifies performance constraints. A qualitative descriptive design was used, employing in-depth interviews, participant observation, and official documentation; data validity was ensured through triangulation, analyzed via an interactive model.The findings reveal that PPP secured four of 50 seats in the Jombang DPRD, ranking sixth among eight parties. Exactly one seat was won in each southern-central electoral district (Dapil 1–4), while no seats were gained in the two northern districts (Dapil 5–6). This result stemmed from combined strategies: recruiting locally rooted candidates, retaining incumbents, activating pesantren and ulama networks in traditionalist-Islamic ("santri") Jombang, concentrating limited resources on winnable districts, mobilizing party wings, and employing religious-populist branding. Constraints included limited campaign finance, direct competition with larger Islamic-leaning parties for the santri base, internal candidate rivalry, and open-list proportional system personalization. The study concludes that PPP’s local competitiveness relies less on broad vote maximization than on disciplined targeting of an ideologically loyal base. It provides practical implications for mid-sized ideological parties' electoral consolidation.]]>
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