The Parameter Politik Indonesia survey, conducted from June 2 to 11, found Gibran to have the highest electability among 11 prospective gubernatorial candidates, with 45 percent of respondents from the province saying they would support him.

The Surakarta mayor, who is a member of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI-P) like his father, outpaced his potential rivals by a lead of more than 40 percentage points.

Coming in second was sitting Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen of the United Development Party (PPP), with just 5.8 percent.

The nine other prospective candidates the survey polled had electability ratings of less than 4 percent each. They include former Semarang mayor Hendrar “Gus Yasin” Prihadi, who currently heads the National Procurement Agency (LKPP), Kendal Regent Dico Ganinduto of the Golkar Party and Muslim scholar Yusuf Chudlori of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

The survey involved 800 respondents of voting age across 35 regencies and municipalities in Central Java and had a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

In its three-horse race scenario, the survey also found that Gibran was the top choice, with 52.8 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him, far higher than the mayor’s closest potential rivals: Gus Yasin with 14.3 percent and Hendrar with 6.2 percent.

“The data shows that Gibran has huge potential to become Central Java’s number one man. It would be a missed opportunity for Gibran if he decided to pursue another [post] instead, for example the Jakarta governorship,” Parameter Politik Indonesia executive director Adi Prayitno stated while releasing the survey results on Thursday.

A bid for the governorship of either Jakarta or Central Java, which are generally seen as a springboard to the presidency, is thought to be in the cards for Gibran, the first of Jokowi’s children to foray into politics.

Jokowi helmed Jakarta from late 2012 to late 2014 until he was installed as president. Meanwhile, the Central Java governorship is currently held by fellow PDI-P member and the party’s presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo.

Gibran has seen his political stock rise following a string of meetings with the nation’s political elite, such as Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is also the chairman and presumptive nominee of the Gerindra Party, and PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar.

Parameter Politik Indonesia found that Gibran’s popularity, currently at 77 percent, contributed significantly to his high electability in its survey, rather than his performance as Surakarta mayor or being the President’s son.

Gibran on Friday said he was surprised at the survey results, but stopped short of commenting on what his next step would be, Tempo.co reported.

An earlier survey by pollster Charta Politika in October 2022 also found that Gibran was the most popular potential contender for Central Java governor, with 37.7 percent of respondents favoring him.

In January, Gibran said he was ready to bid for a governorship in 2024 if PDI-P matron Megawati Soekarnoputri nominated him.

Support has recently been growing for Gibran to follow in his father’s gubernatorial footsteps, with Golkar hinting it would back him if he made such a bid next year. Prabowo has also expressed his support if Gibran ran for governor of either Jakarta or Central Java.

Some analysts have said, however, that it was probably too early for the 35-year-old to eye the Jakarta governorship, primarily because of his lack of experience compared to other likely candidates.

Gibran won the Surakarta mayoralty during the 2020 regional elections, some 15 years after his father’s career-making victory in the family’s hometown.