“I have had great results in [electability ratings for the 2024 presidential-vice presidential race] according to recent surveys. That is something inevitable because of my work,” the newcomer to the Golkar Party told journalists on the sidelines of a public discussion on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.com.

“But, [I] am still focused on what is in front of me, a second West Java gubernatorial run.”

Ridwan joined Golkar in January, when the 2024 regional elections were less than two years away and the 2024 general election just around a year away. The social-media savvy governor then was immediately appointed by Golkar chair and Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto as co-chair of the party’s electoral committee and deputy chairman. Analysts see Ridwan’s entry into Golkar will benefit both sides, with the governor gaining access to Golkar’s well-oiled political machinery for his potential run either in West Java or Jakarta gubernatorial elections and the party banking on his popularity to attract voters, particularly as Indonesians have a tendency toward idolatry. Some analysts also see Ridwan’s move to join Golkar as his long-term bet for 2029.

An architect by trade, Ridwan made his foray into politics in 2013, when he won the mayoralty of the West Java provincial capital of Bandung by securing a 27-percent lead. He continued the upward trajectory by securing the top seat in the province by winning the 2018 gubernatorial election, albeit by a smaller margin. Despite his past bids at local elections being supported by a number of political parties, he remained a nonmember of any parties until he recently joined Golkar.

Read also: Golkar angles for popularity boost via Ridwan Kamil

When pollster Indikator Politik asked respondents in December 2022 to pick one of nine vice presidential candidates, Ridwan came out as number one choice with 24.1 percent of respondents voting for him. Trailing behind him was Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno at 14.8 percent and Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono at 13.6 percent.