The Ishikawa gubernatorial election held on the 8th saw incumbent Hiroshi Hachisuka, aged 64, defeated by newcomer Yoshiyuki Yamano, aged 63, who previously served as the mayor of Kanazawa. The outcome was significantly influenced by the voting results in Kanazawa City, leaving displaced victims from the Noto Peninsula earthquake two years prior feeling neglected and anxious about their situation. Hachisuka acknowledged the harsh realities of voter feedback regarding the recovery efforts following the disaster as he accepted his defeat late on election night.

In the wake of the election, Hachisuka's campaign was aware of growing public concern regarding the slow recovery efforts in the Noto region, particularly in light of the earthquake that significantly impacted the area. His campaign management suggested that the perception of delayed recovery might have resulted in critical votes against him. Interestingly, however, exit polls from Asahi Shimbun indicated that 80% of respondents had a positive view of Hachisuka's first term, suggesting a complex relationship between voter sentiment and the actual election results.

Despite losing the election, Hachisuka managed to win in 16 out of the 19 municipalities within the prefecture. In areas severely affected by the earthquake, including the four hardest-hit cities in Okunoto, Hachisuka’s vote count notably outperformed Yamano's by a margin of 1.6 to 2 times, indicating that the local evaluations of recovery policies did not necessarily translate into electoral success for the sitting governor. This event highlights the intricate dynamics of local elections, particularly how perceptions of recovery efforts post-disaster can sway voter behavior regardless of previous approval ratings.