What to know about Thailand's election as economic growth slows and nationalism rises

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's political parties geared up Friday for their last campaign rallies before voters head to the polls on Sunday for a general election being held against a backdrop of chronically slow economic growth and heightened nationalist sentiment.

There also have been accusations of shady financial influence linked to cybercrime and rampant corruption among officials ahead of the election that is likely to be a tight race among three major parties with no outright winner expected.

Here is what to know.

The snap vote was triggered in December by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who dissolved parliament to preempt a potential no-confidence motion over an issue of constitutional change.

Anutin at the time had held office for only three months after the court-ordered removal of his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for what were judged as ethical lapses. The move came at a tricky political moment as Thailand engaged in combat with Cambodia over a long-standing border dispute.

Anutin is seeking to return to power with his conservative Bhumjaithai Party. He recast himself as a wartime leader during the border clash with Cambodia after his popularity slipped due to deadly southern floods and scam scandals involving senior officials. His campaign has focused on national security and economic stimulus.

The progressive People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, continues to top opinion polls with a structural reform agenda. The party won the most House seats in 2023 under a different name, but was blocked by conservative lawmakers from forming a government. It needs to win decisively enough to overcome those barriers.

The Pheu Thai Party, backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was once dominant while leading the government for two years until August. But two of its prime ministers were ousted by court rulings while Thaksin was imprisoned. Campaigning on economic revival with familiar populist pledges such as cash handouts, Pheu Thai's lead prime ministerial candidate is Thaksin’s nephew, academic Yodchanan Wongsawat.

There will be 400 lawmakers directly elected based on constituencies, while 100 others will be chosen from “party list” nominees, who gain seats according to each party’s proportional share of the vote. Together they will constitute the 500 members of the House of Representatives who select the prime minister.

No single party is expected to win an outright majority, leaving the prime minister to be determined through intense coalition bargaining, similar to the result in 2023.

Analysts say the People’s Party may win the most seats but faces significant hurdles in finding coalition partners due to its reform agenda, which includes shaking up the powerful military.

A Bhumjaithai-led coalition is a more probable outcome because the party would likely secure the backing of the conservative establishment that views its platform as less disruptive to the political status quo.

A referendum also will be held asking voters whether Thailand should replace its 2017 military-drafted constitution.

Rather than a specific draft, the vote will decide whether to authorize Parliament to begin a formal drafting process. Pro-democracy groups view it as a critical first step toward reducing the influence of unelected institutions such as the military and judiciary. Conservatives oppose the measure, saying the changes could remove essential safeguards for political stability.

A man walks behind political parties' election campaign posters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A man walks next to political parties' election campaign posters in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

File - Pheu Thai Party prime minister candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat speaks to supporters during an election campaign in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

File - Leader of People's Party prime minister candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut waves during an election campaign in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

File - Thailand's Prime Minister and leader of Bhumjaithai Party Anutin Charnvirakul, attends an election campaign, in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democratic voters voted to pick their party's candidate from a crowded field in Thursday's special election for the U.S. House seat that was opened up by Mikie Sherrill's victory in the race for governor.

Polls closed in the evening for the competitive Democratic primary, which stemmed from Sherrill's resignation in the 11th District after she won the governorship last year. The winner will face Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, on April 16.

Among the leading Democrats seeking the nomination was former Rep. Tom Malinowski, who lost a bid for reelection in a different district in 2022. He had the endorsement of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, who has built support among progressive groups.

Brendan Gill, an elected commissioner in Essex County, one of New Jersey's most populous, has close ties to former Gov. Phil Murphy, whose first campaign for governor he managed.

Analilia Mejia, a onetime head of the Working Families Alliance in the state and political director for Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, had his endorsement, as well as that of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York.

Tahesha Way, who served as lieutenant governor and secretary of state for two terms under Murphy until last month, was also in the race.

The other candidates were John Bartlett; Zach Beecher, J-L Cauvin, Marc Chaaban, Cammie Croft, Dean Dafis, Jeff Grayzel, Justin Strickland and Anna Lee Williams.

The district covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey, including some of New York City's wealthier suburbs.

The special primary and April general election will determine who serves the remainder of Sherrill's term, which ends next January. There will be a regular primary in June and general election in November for the next two-year term.

Sherrill represented the district for four terms after her election in 2018. She won despite the region's historical loyalty to the GOP, a dynamic that began to shift during President Donald Trump's first term.

FILE - New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill waves during her inauguration ceremony in Newark, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)