<![CDATA[This study analyzes patterns of electoral victories by regional head candidates in the 2024 regional elections across three regions with distinct institutional settings and socio-religious contexts: Aceh, where Islamic law is institutionally embedded; Jakarta, a pluralistic metropolitan region; and East Java, where pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) and Islamic organizations have longstanding social influence. The study employs a qualitative comparative design. The findings indicate that Islamic representation functions as a strategic political instrument, yet its implementation varies. In Aceh, a candidate’s success is associated with the symbols and legitimacy of Islamic law. In Jakarta, Islamic elements appear primarily through inclusive moral and symbolic narratives addressed to a diverse electorate. By contrast, in East Java, the Islamic boarding school network and Islamic mass organizations play an important role in electoral dynamics. Conceptually, this study situates these results within the frameworks of religious populism and identity politics, showing that the mobilization of Islamic symbols in local elections is not determined by doctrine alone but is also shaped by relational and contextual factors and each region’s socio-political arrangements. This study contributes to the development of scholarship on local political Islam and deepens understanding of Pilkada dynamics as a space for expressing identity and power strategies.]]>
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